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jfok  n  &t  a  7vjL  i  d. 


Dr.  Boerhaave's 


Academical  Le&ures 

ON  THE 

Theory  of  PHYSIC. 

BEING 
A  Genuine  Tranflation  of  his 

INSTITUTES 

AND 

Explanatory  Comment, 

Collated  and  adjufted  to  each  other,  as  they  were 
dictated  to  his  Students  at  the  Univerfity 
of  Ley  den. 

VOL.  VL 

Containing  the  S  i  g  n  s  of  Health,  Conftitutions, 
and  Difeafes ;  with  the  Methods  of  preferving 
Health,  preventingDiftempers,  procuring  Lon- 
gevity, and  of  removing  prefent  Difeafes. 


LONDON: 

Printed  for  J.  Rivington,  R.  Baldwin,  W; 
Johnston,  J.  Richardson,  T.  Longman, 
S.  Crowder,  P.  Davey  and  B.  Law^-^T H j 
Woodgat£.    .--  ARyq* 

mdcclvil 


10,140  !  LIBRARY 

Founded  1813 


CONTENTS, 

Page  Seft. 

Symptoms  of  Difeafes,  i  — -  8qi 


SEMIOTIGA, 

*  general* 
Signs  of  Healthy 
Signs  of  Temperament  sy 
Signs  of  DifeafeS) 
Signs  by  the  Pulfe9 
Signs  by  the  Refpirationy 
Signs  by  the  Urine, 


113  — 

87I 

122   

882 

132  — 

888 

I4O  — 

898 

195  — 

95* 

205  — 

971 

215  — 

991 

HUGIENE  and  PROPHYLAXIS. 

Prefervation  of  Health,  236  —  1018 
Prevention  of  BfeafeS)  257  —  1049 
Piet  for  Longevity,  260  —  1053 


The    C  O  N  E  N  T  S. 


THERAPEUTIC  A. 

Page  Seffc. 

€f  the  Curative  Part  of  Phyjic*      277  — .1067 

M*thoiL of  healings  281  —  1075- 

Cordials  and  Diet ,  293  —  I095 

Preventative  Cure  of  Difeafes,  31 3  —  11 16 

Antidotes  and  Poifons,         314  —  1119 

Indication  of  the  Solids ,       356  —  l^55 

Indication  of  the  Fluids,      360  —  1163 

Evacuation  of  the  Fluids ;     382  —  1185 

Sudorific  s,  383  —  1188 

Apphlegmatifms  or  Ster-1  g 

nutatories,  j 

Sialogogs  or  Salivatories,      394  —  1198 

Emetics  or  Vomitories,         399  —  1202 

Cathartics  or  Purgatives*    405  —  1 209 

Diuretics,  413  —  1220 

Emmenagogs  ana I  Ariftolochics,^\j  —  1225 

Phlebotomy  or  Blood-letting,  420  —  1228 

Palliative  Cure*  432  —  1244 


0/ 


Of  the  Symtoms  of  Diseases, 

§.  8 o  i  •  H  ^  HAT  preternatural  Appear- 
ance* in  a  difeafed  Body, 
I  which  flows  from  the  Di~ 
ftemper  as  its  Caufe,  yet  fo 
as  to  be  diftinguifhable  from  the  Difeafe  itfelf, 
and  from  its  proximate  Caufe,  is  termed  a 
Symptom  of  the  Difeafe ;  but  if  it  proceeds 
from  the  Caufe  itfelf  of  the  Diforder,  it  is  at 
the  fame  time  termed  a  Symptom  .  of  the 
Caufe1 ;  but  if  again  the  Appearance  proceeds 
from  forne  other  antecedent  Symptom  as  its 
Caufe,  it  is  called  a  fymptomatic  Symptom, 
or  a  Symptom  of  a  Symptom  3.  But  fuch  an 
Appearance  as  happens  in  the  Courfe  of  a  Dif- 
eafe from  a  different  Caufe  or  Origin,  diftindt 
from  the  Difeafe  itfelf* ,  its  Caufe  or  Symptoms, 
may  be  more  properly  denominated  a  luper- 
vening  or  incidental  Syptom*. 

1  This  is  one  Part  of  the  Difeafe  confidered  by 
itfelf;  and  it  is  from  an  Affemblage  of  fuch  Symp- 
toms, that  the  whole  Difeafe  is  compofed  %  as  for 
Example,  Heat  in  an  ardent  Fever,  or  an  im- 
peded Infpiration  in  a  Pleurify,  are  Symptoms  of 
the  Difeafe. 

*  That  is,  an  Effect  of  the  Caufe  fo  far  as  the 
Caufe  is  diftincl;  from  the  Difeafe;  as  for  Ex- 
ample, a  Flux  of  Blood  from  die  Nofe  in  an  ar- 

B  dens 


2  7 'he  Symptoms  of Difeafes.  §.  80 r, 

dent  Fever,  the  Caufe  of  which  is  a  too  violent 

Attrition  and  Impulfe  of  the  Blood. 

3  Let  us  inftance,  for  Example,  a  Tumor  of 
the  parotid  Gland,  produced  by  an  Extravafation 
of  Blood,  which  is  itfelf  produced  from  a  Symp- 
tom "of  the  Caufe.  When  the  Blood  is  accumu- 
lated in  the  Lungs  from  an  impeded  Refpiration 
in  a  Pleurify,  that  Accumulation  is  a  Symptom  of 
a  Symptom,  fo  that  the  difeafe  does  not  fo  much, 
arife  from  another  Difeafe,  as  from  one  Symptom 
produced  by  another. 

4  This  is  a  thing  of  the  utmofl  Confequence  to 
be  unckrfcood.  1  hree  Phyficians  treat  the  very 
fame  Difeafe,  as  for  Example,  a  Pleurify,  in  three 
different  Patients,  after  very  different  Methods. 
The  Galenical  Phyfician  bleeds  either  till  the  Pa- 
t  ent  faints,  or  until  the  Pain*  is  abated  ;  and  his 
Patient,  when  cured,  will  be  in  a  languifhing  Con- 
dition for  Years,  before  he  recovers  his  Strength. 

*  The  Helmontian  Phyfician  is  utterly  againft  bleed- 
ing, and  therefore  the  Patient  fuffers  from  all  thofe 
Symptoms,  which  naturally  follow  from  an  In- 
flammation left  to  itfelf.  But  a  third  Phyfician 
bleeds  the  Patient,  only  as  much  as  is  fufficient 
to  prevent  a  Suppuration,  and  he  recovers  his 
Strength  entirely  in  about  a  Fortnights  Time. 
From  hence  arifes  that  vaft  Difference  obfervablc 
in  the  practical  Obfervations  of  Phyficians. 

5  Such  are  properly  termed  accidental  Symp- 
toms, as  do  not  arife  from  the  Difeafe  itfelf,  but 
from  fome  Alteration  of  Air  or  Error  in  the  Pa- 
tient, or  his  Attendants,  &c.  Thus  a  Peripneu- 
rnony,  after  drinking  any  cold  Liquor  in  an  ardent 
Fever,  is  an  Effect  not  of  the  difeafe,  but  of  the 
Error  committed  s  or  if  a  pleuritic  Patient  drinks 
Wine,  there  will  be  a  Train  of  other  Symptoms 
following  from  the  drinking  of  that  Liquor. 

§.  802* 


§.  802.  77>e  Symptoms  of  D  if  cafes.  3 


§.  802.  From  hence  it  follows,  that  thefe 
primary  Symptoms  do,  in  realitv,  again  be- 
come Diftcmpers  themfelves,  very  different 
from  each  other  in  Number,  Variety,  and 
Effe&s ;  yet  are  they  commodioufly  reduced, 
according  to  the  Doctrine  of  the  Ancients  \ 
to  Adions  injured,  and  Vices  of  the  Retenta  or 
Excreta,  or  Qualities z  of  the  Body  changed. 
We  fhali  therefore  confider  each  of  thefe,  to- 
gether with  their  Caufes  J. 

1  The  Ancients  efteem  it  necefTary  for  a  Phyfl- 
cian  firft  to  determine  the  Name  of  the  Difeafe, 
afterwards  its  Caufe,  whether  in  the  Aliments, 
Medicines,  &c.  and  laftly,  to  confider  the  Signs 
and  Symptoms  with  which  it  invaded  the  Patient. 
Certain  it  is,  that  if  young  Phyficians  would  oblige 
themfelves  to  a  rigorous  and  critical  Examination* 
of  D.feafes  in  this  manner,  (as  if  the  Cafes  which 
they  write*  were  to  be  continually  fubjected  to 
new  Examinations)  the  Benefit  of  this  Diligence 
would  be  confiderable,  as  well  to  Pofterity,  as 
to  themfelves  for  the  future  part  of  their  Lives. 
Befides  this,  the  Excretions  are  to  be  regarded,  as 
to  the  Time,  and  certain  Quantity  of  the  Sanffo- 
rian  Perfpiration,  Sweat  and  Saliva,  With  the  Co- 
lour, Smell,         of  the  Faeces. 

1  Ariftotle  defines  a  Quality  to  be  that  mode  of 
Exiftence  in  Bodies,  which  determines  them  to  be 
called  what  they  are.  By  the  Qualities  of  our  own 
Bodies*  we  underftand  every  thing  capable  of  be- 
ing obferved  in  them  by  the  Organs  of  Senfe.  We 
are  therefore  to  obferve,  whether  the  Faeces  are  of 
a  white,  livid  or  other  Colour,  or  whether  they 
are  of  an  uncommon  putrid  Smelly  which  is  a  bad 
Omen  in  all  Difeafes. 

B  2  Th# 


4   T&e  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.803. 

1  The  Symtomatology,  or  Doctrine  of  Symp- 
toms in  Difeafes,  has  been  treated  of  by  Sennertits 
but  with  too  great  Subtlety,  fo  that  he  has  made 
the  doclrine  more  obfcure  and  difficult,  which  I 
fhall  therefore  in  this  Place  endeavour  tc^obviate. 

§.  803.  The  firfl  Clafs  therefore  of  thefe 
Symptoms  is  ranged  according  to  the  Series, 
or  Order  of  the  Actions  themfelves,  which 
are  either  diminiflied,  abolifhed,  increafed  or 
depraved 1  \  and  hence,  according  to  the 
Method  in  which  we  examine  thofe  Actions 
in  Health,  we  are  to  defcribe,  firfl  the  Symp- 
toms of  the  Appetite  refpecting  the  Food  and 
Drink.  Here  then  we  meet  with  a  Dijb- 
rexia  %  or  diminifhed  Appetite  to  Food ; 
Anorexia^  or  lofs  of  Appetite  ;  a  Naufea  and 
Averfion  3  to  Food,  to  which  add,  living 
without  Food ;  Bulimy a  voracious,  canine 
or  Ox-like  Appetite  ;  a  Malacia  or  Pica  4,  in 
which  the  Appetite  is  vitiated,  and  defires 
fuch  things  as  are  not  capable  of  being  con- 
verted into  Nourifhment,  and  which  are  not 
at  all  fit  to  enter  into  the  Stomach. 

TheCaufes  of  thefe  Symptoms  are  generally 
found  to  be  a  vifcid  unactive  Phlegm  5,  clog- 
ging the  membranes,  an  Abfence  of  the  Bile, 
a  Suppreffion  of  the  faline 6  Parts  of  the  Hu- 
mours, a  Relaxation  or  a  Palfy  7  of  the  Fibres; 
a  foul  Matter  from  a  PutrefaStion  %  of  what 
was  contained  in  the  Stomach,  a  watery  Dif- 
pqfition 9  of  the  Blood,  Corpulency  or  Fatnefs 
and  Idlencfs    from  Acrimony10,  cither  acid11 

Jalinc 


\ 


§.803.  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  5 

fa!inelz,  bilious  l\  or  at  ri  biliary**,  conveyed 
to  the  Stomach  and  Inteftines  Worms  15 ;  fuch 
as  have  their  Bowels  with  very  ftrong  Fibres, 
and  continually  moving  16  -7  an  acrid  Humour 
predominating  and  not  to  be  obtunded 17 ,  but  - 
by  taking  fomething  unufual  into  the  Sto- 
mach, an  Alteration  in  the  Courfe  or  Cir- 
culation of  the  Blood,  and  a  depraved  Fancy 
or  Imagination,  efpecially  in  Women  with 
Child. 

1  Every  Action  in  the  human  Body  refults 
from  its  particular  Caufes  which  produce  that 
Action,  and  no  other,  and  in  its  particular  degree  ; 
but  when  the  Caufes  of  thofe  Actions  are  depraved, 
the  confequent  Appearances  or  Effects  muft  of 
Neceflity  be  altered. 

2  This  Diforder  afflicts  thofe  who  have  their 
Stomach  lined  with  an  inactive  Mucus,  or  who 
have  a  Deficiency  of  the  Bile,  which  efcaping  into 
the  ftomach  when  empty,  would  excite  the  Ap- 
petite. In  this  Cafe  therefore  Bitters  are  to  be  ad- 
miniftred,  or  faline  Medicines  moderately  ufed. 

3  Hopper  at  es  tells  us,  that  nothing  is  worfe  in 
any  Difeafe  than  a  lofs  of  Appetite,  joined  with 
an  Averfion  or  Abhorrence  to  Food. 

4  Thus  We  call  thofe  unufual  or  vitiated  Appe- 
tites to  Subftances  which  cannot  be  digefted,  as  we 
frequently  obferve  in  Women  with  Child,  and  in 
Girls  troubled  with  the  green Sicknefs.  Thus  I  faw 
a  Girl,  who  deftroyed  herfelf  by  eating  fcarlet  Silk. 

5  Which  Phlegm  fo  loads  the  nervous  Papillae 
of  the  Stomach,  that  they  are  hardly  affected  by 
the  Saliva,  Relicks  of  the  Food,  or  Attrition  of 
the  Rugae.  This  thick  Phlegm  is  accumulated  by 
degrees  without  a  Fever. 

B  3  It 


6    The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §  803. 

6  It  often  happens  in  a  Relaxation  of  the  Sto- 
mach from  hard  drinking,  or  from  an  Abufe  of 
warm  watery  Liquors ;  and  in  this  Cafe  Bitters 
will  be  proper,  inafmuch  as  they  fharptn  the  Bile, 
attenuate  the  Phlegm,  and  ftrengthen  the  Fibres. 

7  From  hence,  both  an  Anorexia  and  Lientery 
may  follow,  according  as  the  mufcular  Strength, 
either  of  the  Stomach  or  Inteftines,  is  deftroyed ; 
and  this  frequently  follows  after  too  great  a  Diften- 
fion  of  the  Stomach  by  over-eating  at  a  Feaft, 

8  A  certain  Nobleman  after  an  Anorexia  fell 
into  an  Averfion  of  Food,  fo  that  he  had  a  Naufea 
even  at  the  name  of  Aliment ;  and  in  the  mean 
time  his  Breath  was  extremely  foetid.  Upon 
opening  his  Body,  his  Liver  was  found  putrid. 
The  fame  confequences  may  follow  from  a  putrid 
or  rancid  oil  for  the  mod  voracious  Appetite 
may  be  foon  allayed  by  drinking  a  drop  or  two 
pf  the  {linking  Whale  Oil. 

9  For  then  both  Thirft  and  Hunger  are  de- 
flroyed,  becaufe  the  Body  neither  requires  Water 
nor  Food. 

10  A  Dram  of  Sal  Ammoniacum  deftroys  the 
Appetite,  but  a  muriatic  Salt  with  the  Juice  of 
Lemons  will  in  an  Hour's  time  create  a  fharp 
Appetite. 

11  Acids  increafe  the  Appetite  and  render  People 
hungry. 

12  When  Salts  abound  in  the  Bile,  Saliva  and 
pancreatic  Juice,  Hunger  is  always  increafed  and 
hence  the  moft  voracious  Animals  have  a  faline 
Liquor  found  in  their  Stomachs  •,  fuch  a  Liquor 
has  been  found  by  the  Members  of  the  Academy 
de  CimentO)  in  the  Stomach  of  the  Oftrich,  Falcon, 
Swan,  &c. 

13  Vef alius  opened  the  Stomach  of  a  moft  vo- 
racious Robber,  and  found  the  biliary  Dud  in- 
ferred 


§.  8o3-  Th&  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  7 

ferted  into  the  Stcmach  ;  and  Galen  afTures  ns, 
that  People  who  are  fabjeft  to  have  the  Bile  afcend 
into  the  Stomach,  are  always  extremely  voracious. 

14  An  a:rabiiiary  Humour  in  the  Stomach  ren- 
ders People  almofc  infatiable. 

15  More  efpecially  when  thefe  worms  are  large, 
and  creep  in  great  Numbers  towards  the  Stomach, 
where  they  intercept  the  Aliment.  People  who 
are  troubled  with  the  round  Worms,  are  ufually 
extremely  voracious. 

16  Hence  the  antient  Greeks  denominate  fome 
People  calkenterous,  as  if  they  had  brazen  Vif- 
cera.  And  Hippocrates  fays,  that  the  Food  ought 
to  be  proDomoned  to  the  Motion  or  Exercife-, 
Farmers  Men  who  labour  hard  in  the  Summer- 
time, do  then  eat  as  much  Food  again  as  they  do 
in  the  Winter.  If  you  would  weaken  the  Stomachy 
of  thefe  Men,  you  ought  to  give  them  fugar  and 
Water. 

17  In  this  Cafe,  the  Patient  eats  as  much  of  the 
Mortar  off  the  Walls,  or  Scales  of  Iron  from  the 
Smith's  Forge  as  they  can  lay  hold  of-,  and  in 
the  mean  time  thefe  very  Subftances  are  powerful 
Remedies?  fought  after  by  Nature  to  relieve 
the  prefent  Diforders  of  the  Patient,  as  they  ef- 
fectually abate  Hunger.  They  who  have  a  ftrong 
Appetite  or  Inclination  after  improper  Food,  are 
feldom  cured  by  reftraint,  but  there  are  numerous 
Inflances  of  their  recovering  by  indulging  their 
Appetite.  There  was  a  certain  rich  Gentleman 
of  Amfterdam^  who  fell  into  a  Proftration  or  Lofs 
of  Appetite,  in  which  the  Phyficians  could  do 
him  no  fervice,  fo  that  !4e  lived  miferable  in  the 
midft  of  his  Wealth  but  c  length  he  had  a  ftrong 
Inclination  to  eat  Herrings  of  which  he  devoured 
fome  hundreds  in  a  little  time,  and  was  afterwards 
cured.    Poultry  which  live  only  upon  Grain,  ge- 

B  4  aerate 


S    "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.804. 

nerate  an  Acidity  in  the  Organs  of  Digeftion,  which 
occafions  them  to  fearch  for  fmall  Stones,  which 
if  they  are  deprived  from,  they  pine  and  die 
with  Sicknefs.  This  is  not  difficult  to  account 
for,  fince  the  Stomachs  of  Children  and  weak  Girls 
are  troubled  with  a  corroding  Acid,  which  makes 
them  defirous  to  eat  any  thing  which  is  abforbing 
or  capable  of  obtunding  Acidity,  fuch  as  Lime, 
Chalk,  Ames,  £s?c.  nor  is  Chalk  in  thefe  Cafes 
prejudicial,  To  long  as  the  injurious  Acid  offends; 
and  in  general  a  Pica  or  vitiated  Appetite  ufually 
arifes  from  fome  unknown  Humour  of  the  Body, 
which  can  be  cured  only  by  the  particular  thing 
after  which  the  Patient  has  fo  ftrong  a  defire.  Even 
Hyppccrates  of  old  has  advifed  Phyficians  to  follow 
thefe  Appetites  after  uncommon  forts  of  Food, 
and  which  are  oppofiteto  the  nature  of  the  Dif- 
cafe. 

§.  804.  An  infatiable  defire  after  Drink, 
or  extreme  tbirji  \  ufually  arifes  from  too 
great  Drynefs  %  from  an  impervious  Spifjitude1 
of  the  Humours,  or  from  too  great  Heat* ; 
from  Acrimony,  either  muriatic,  ammonical 
or  alcaline  5  ;  or  laftly,  from  an  aromatic  or 
aduft  oily  Acrimony,  or  from  fome  Poifpns  \ 

1  The  Caufes  of  too  great  Third  deftroy  the 
Body,  unlefs  a  fufficient  Quantity  of  Drink  be 
taken*  Thirft  is  therefore  a  faithful  Keeper  to  the 
Body,  as  long  as  the  Senfes  are  as  they  ought  to 
be,  and  therefore  this  Call  of  Nature  ought  to  be 
regarded  and  fatisfied. 

2  Namely,  becaufe  Drynefs  denotes  an  Imper- 
vioufnefs  and  inflammatory  Difpofition  of  the 
Humours. 

Nor 


§.  806.  Tloe  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  g 

3  Nor  will  Third  ceafe  till  the  Humours  are 
fufHciently  diluted. 

4  For  Heat  diffipates  all  the  thinner  Humours 
throughout  the  Body,  fo  that  the  Remainder  rnuft 
confequently  be  left  infpiffated  in  the  VefTels.  Fire 
burns  all  things,  but  is  extinguifhed  itfelf  by 
Water  ;  but  a  Patient  does  not  require  fo  much 
Water  to  be  given  him  as  would  extingaim  z 
Fire  ;  for  Heat  or  Fire  of  600  degrees  burns,  but 
a  Heat  in  the  Humours  a  little  more  than  a. 
hundred,  is  fufficient  to  deftroy  the  Body. 

5  This  is  the  Caufe  of  Third  in  a  Dropfy,  when 
the  ftagnant  Serum  or  Water  begins  to  putrefy, 
when  at  the  fame  time  the  more  fluid  Parts  of 
the  Humours  are  drawn  off  from  the  Blood-veffels 
into  the  Cells  and  fmaller  VefTels. 

6  Some  Poifons  are  capable  of  exciting  -Thirft  in 
a  furprizing  manner;  thus  the  fmall  Serpent  which 
bit  the  Ifraelites7  occafioned  an  infatiable  Third, 
though  it  made  but  a  very  fmall  WTound.  In  this 
Dilbrdcr,  as  much  frefh  Water  is  to  be  ufed,  as 
is  fufficient  to  dilute  thePoffon  ;  otherwife  it  will 
be  the  fame  thing  as  drinking  fak  Water  to  ex- 
tinguifli  Third. 

§.  805.  Maftication  is  injured  from  fome 
Defect  in  the  Mouth,  Tongue,  Teeth,  Jaws, 
Saliva  or  Mufcles ;  which  may  again  proceed 
either  from  Wounds,  an  Inflammation,  Palfy, 
Cramp,  Drynefs,  or  the  like. 

§.  8c6.  Deglutition  1  is  likewife  injured, 
either  from  a  Defect  of  the  Mouth,  Tongue, 
Palate  %  I'onfih  3,  Uvula  4,  Larynx  5,  Pha- 
rynx, Oefophagus,  or  upper  Orifice  of  the 
Stomach  5  and  this  again  may  proceed  from  a 

Wound, 


to  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  8c 6, 

Wound,  Inflammation,  Pain,  Tumor  Cramp7} 
Palfy,  Drynefs,  a  Converfion  of  the  mem- 
branous Parts  into  Bone  or  Cartilage  8,  a  Dif- 
location  of  the  Parts  of  the  Larynx  9  or  of 
the  Vertebra?  of  the  Neck,  or  a  want  of 
Mucus  10 , 

1  Deglutition  is  fo  complex  an  Action,  and  re- 
quires the  Afllftance  of  fuch  a  great  Number  of 
Organs,  (more  in  Number  than  any  other  Action 
in  the  Body)  that  it  muft  necefTarily  be  liable  to 
Injury  from  a  multitude  of  Caufes. 

*  That  is,  whether  the  moveable  Palate  be 
Injured  by  a  Palfy,  Convulfion,  Erofion  or  Ab* 
fcefs. 

3  Which  are  very  liable  to  Inflammation  and 
Scirrhus. 

4  Thus  when  the  Uvula  is  loft  or  flit,  the  Food 
and  Drink  is  not  then  properly  directed  over  the 
Epiglottis,  fo  as  to  avoid  falling  into  the  Larynx; 
and  when  the  Uvula  is  too  much  re'axed,  it  not 
only  obftructs  Deglutition,  but  occaflons  an  Incli- 
nation to  vomit. 

5  The  Larynx  has  a  fhare  in  Deglutition,  as  far 
as  it  is  moved  by  the  refpective  Mufcles  ;  but 
when  only  one  of  thefe  Mufcles,  as  for  Inftance, 
when  the  Mylohyoideus  is  inflamed,  the  whole 
Bufinefs  of  Deglutition  is  flopped. 

6  Sometimes  an  Inability  of  fwal lowing  prq- 
ceeds  from  a  Tumor  in  the  Oefophagus,  which  I 
have  fometimes  been  able  to  cure,  and  fometimes 
not.  Some  have  had  the  Aliment  regurgitate 
through  the  Nofe  by  endeavouring  to  fwallow  it ; 
others  again  have  been  able  to  fwallow  it  a  confl- 
derable  way  down  the  Gula,  where  it  at  lad 
met  with  fo  much  Refinance,  and  gave  fo  much 

2  ?a^n> 


§.  806.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.   1 1 

Pain,  that  the  Patient  has  been  obliged  to  bring  it 
all  up  again  with  a  confiderable  Force.  Thefe 
Tumors  comprefling  the  Oefophagus,  are  ufually 
feated  in  the  Glandular  Dprfales  of  Vef alius  *  which 
when  enlarged  or  rendered  fcirrhous,  may  com- 
prefs  the  Sides  of  the  Oefophagus  clofe  together, 
round  which  they  are  placed.  The  unhappy  Pa- 
tient in  this  Cafe  perifhes  with  Hunger  if  not 
timely  relieved.  Hence,  if  the  Diforder  is  not 
foon  remedied,  you  will  be  obliged  to  ufe  the 
Affiftance  of  Mercury  to  produce  a  flight  Sali- 
vation, or  at  Ieaft  to  ditfblve  the  B!ood  and  open 
the  VefTels,  which  has  been  attended  with  good 
Succefs,  according  to  the  Obfervation  of  Ruyfcb. 

7  Such  as  is  frequent  in  hypochondriacal  and 
hyfterical  People,  whofe  Deglutition  is  often  ob- 
ftructed  by  fuch  a  Spafm  of  the  Oefophagus,  or 
upper  Orifice  of  the  Stomach  \  for  they  are  almoft 
ready  to  fwear  that  they  feel  fomething  rife  up  in 
their  Throat,  which  is  capable  of  being  feen  and 
felt  but  atter  once  breaking  Wind  the  Tumor 
inftantly  vanifties.  For  in  this  Cafe,  the  Flatus 
heated  and  rarefied,  is  intercepted  by  the  Spafm 
or  Conftriction  of  the  Oefophagus  above  at  the 
Pharynx ;  and  below  by  the  Conftriction  of  the 
upper  Orifice  of  the  Stomach  5  whence  the  Patient 
has  the  Senfe  of  an  uncommon  Swelling  in  the 
Throat,  &c.  but  when  the  Spafm  of  the  Pharynx 
and  Cardia  is  removed,  the  Flatus  difcharges  itfelf, 
and  the  Tumor  fubfides. 

8  Firft  Nucke,  and  fince  him  others  have  ob- 
ferved  the  Cardia  and  Oefophagus,  fcirrhous,  or 
indurated  into  the  Confidence  of  a  Cartilage,  efpe- 
cially  in  old  People,  in  fuch  a  manner  that  they 
have  not  been  capable  of  admitting  any  thing  into/ 
or  from  the  Stomach  by  the  Mouth.  This  is  a 
Diforder  more  frequent  than  one  would  imagine, 

and 


12  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  807. 

and  feems  to  arife  often  from  the  drinking  of  Water 
or  other  Liquors  fcalding  hot. 

9  The  Cartilages  of  the  Larynx  are  connected 
together  by  particular  Ligaments  and  Articula- 
tions from  whence,  if  they  are  diflocated,  De- 
glutition is  impeded,  according  to  the  Oblervation 
of  Mr.  Coivper,  who  has  feen  the  Cafe. 

10  This  Mucus  renders  the  Fauces  and  Oefo- 
phagus  fmooth  and  flippery,  to  facilitate  the 
dcfcent  of  the  Aliment  into  the  Stomach  ;  but 
when  the  Membranes  of  thefe  Parts  appear  tenfe, 
dry,  or  mining,  or  befet  with  Aphthae,  they  arc 
capable  of  fwallowing  nothing,  as  Hippocrates  and 
Sydenham  obferve  ;  to  which  add  a  Deficiency  of 
the  Saliva. 

§.  807.  -The  chief  kinds  of  Injury  to  the 
Action  of  the  Stomach,  are  Apepfia  or  Indi- 
geftion,  Dyfpepfia  or  bad  Digeftion,  Bradi- 
febfia  1  or  a  too  flow  Digeftion,  and  Diap- 
thora  a  when  the  Aliments  putrefy  into  a 
Humour  different  from  that  of  good  Chyle. 
The  Caufes  are  almoft  -  the  fame  with  thofe 
which  deftroy  the  Appetite,  or  caufe  an  Ano- 
rexy  (§.  803.);  more  efpegially  a  Deficiency 
and  Inactivity  of  the  Saliva  of  the  Mouth  and 
Stomach 3,  a  languid  Condition  of  the  Organs 
of  Refpiration  4,  foul  Matter,  Worms  s,  or 
tough  Aliments  ingefted  in  the  Stomach  ;  or 
laftly,  an  Afflux  of  putrid  Humours.  But  a  too 
quick 6  Digeftion  without  any  thing  elfe  amifs, 
is  feldom  a  Difeafe  ;  and  the  Caufes  thereof  we 
•  have  already  explained,  as  they  are  the  fame 
which  produce  a  Bulimy. 


ABra: 


§.  808.  7*he  Symptoms  of  D  If  cafes.  13 

1  A  Bradypepfia  is  when  the  Food  taken  into 
the  Stomach  is  not  digefted  and  difcharged  into  the 
Bowels  in  the  fpace  of  twenty  four  Hours,  but 
continues  there  fome  Days. 

1  Diapthora  is  when  the  Aliments  are  indeed 
changed  in  the  Stomach,  but  then  they  are  not 
converted  into  good  Chyle,  capable  of  being  af- 
fimilated  into  the  nature  of  the  human  Body,  as, 
for  Example,  when  Bread  or  vegetable  Food  turns 
four,  or  when  Flefh  or  Fifh  putrefy  upon  the 
Stomach,  &c. 

3  There  is  a  certain  Efficacy  or  difTolving  Power 
in  the  Saliva  or  Juice  of  the  Stomach,  which  pro- 
ceeds from  their  penetrating  Saks  fet  in  Action  by 
Heat  •,  but  when  thofe  Juices  are  deficient,  both 
the  Appetite  and  Digeftion  are  impeded  or  de- 
ftroyed.  In  this  Cafe  the  Patient  may  be  relieved 
in  fome  meafure  by  the  ufe  of  Bitters  and  Medi- 
cines, which  have  the  fame  Efficacy  with  the  Bile, 
fuch  as  Elixir  Proprietatis,  Tincture  of  Worm- 
wood, Esfa 

4  For  Refpiration  has  a  great  Share  in  promot- 
ing the  Digeftion  of  the  Aliments. 

5  Inafmuch  as  thefe  difturb  the  motion  of  the 
Stomach,  and  abforb  the  more  fluid  Parts  of  the 
Humours  ;  and  therefore  thefe  occafion  an  ufelefs 
Appetite  without  Concoction. 

6  Rich  People  never  complain  of  their  Appetite 
returning  too  often  or  being  too  great-,  but  among 
poor  People,  Hunger  is  often  a  terrible  Difeafe. 
The  Arabian  Phyficians  give  us  a  hiftory  of  a 
Woman  who  applied  for  a  Remedy  againfr,  the 
Hunger  or  increased  Appetite  of  her  Hufband. 


§.  80?.  The  Diforders,  of  the  Expulfion  of 
the  Contents  of  the  Stomach,  are  reckoned  to 
1  be 


*4  The  Symptems  of  Difeafes.  §.  808; 

be  Hiccups  \  Naufea  or  Loathing,  Vomiting, 
Choiera  morbus  %  and  Belchings.  The  former 
of  thefe  is,  as  it  feems  to  be,  aConvuliion  of  the 
Oefophagus,  Stomach*  and  Diaphragm  con- 
trading  upwards,  while  at  the  fame  Inftant 
the  latter  is  fuddenly  convulfed  downward  ; 
bat  the  Caufe  of  this  is  ufually  a  too  hafty  * 
fwallowing  of  too  large  a  Quantity  *  of  Food 
at  a  time,  rilling  the  Stomach  with  too  great 
a  Quantity,  or  from  fome  Acrimony  or  Irri- 
tation in  the  Stomach  itfelf,  an  Inflammation 
of  it  or  of  the  Oefophagus  5  convulfive  Mo- 
tions from  too  great  Evacuations  s,  or  excited 
by  over-vomitingj  fharp  Poifons 6,  &c. 

*  The  Caufes  of  this  Diforder  are  obfcure,  tho9 
their  Effects  are  fo  rrianifcft.  This  is  commonly 
efteemed  aConvuifion  of  the  Diaphragm  ;  but  to 
a  Hiccup  belongs  alfo  a  Contraction  of  the  longi- 
tudinal Fibres  of  the  Oefophagus,  by  which  the 
latter  is  drawn  up  towards  the  Fauces,  while  at 
thq,  fame  time  the  Stomach  and  Diaphragm  are 
drawn  downward  ;  and  hence  it  is  that  a  Pain  is 
perceived  in  the  upper  and  lower  Pare  of  the  Sto- 
mach, after  a  Hiccup  has  continued  fome  time. 
When  this  Diforder  arifes  from  an  Inflammation 
or  other  Defect  of  the  Diaphragm,  it  is  a  fatal 
Sign. 

a  The  Cholera  morbus  is  a  violent  Expulfion  of 
the  abdominal  Contents  both  upward  and  down- 
ward. 

J  Gluttons  are  frequently  troubled  with  the  Hic- 
cup, when  they  haftily  fwallow  too  large  Morfels* 

4  Hence  Children  are  frequently  troubled  with 
the  Hiccup  when  they  have  over  eat  thenfelves. 

Namely^ 


§ .  809.  *The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.    1  $ 

5  Namely,  when  this  Evacuation  has  been  fo 
exceffive  as  to  denudate  the  Nerves,  and  expofe 
them  too  much  to  the  Acrimony  of  the  Medicine ; 
and  this  kind  of  vomiting  is  mod  conftantly  fatal, 
as  has  been  obferved  formerly  by  Hippocrates. 

6  Thefe  Poifons  abrade  the  mucous  Liniment 
which  defends  the  Stomach  and  ftimulate  its  ner- 
vous Coat  i  and  therefore  Hiccups  are  almoft  a 
conftant  Symptom  of  all  acrid  Poifons. 

§.  809.  Naufea  and  Vomiting  feem  to  be  a 
Convulfive  and  retrograde1  Motion  of  them  uf- 
cular  Fibres  of  the  Stomach,  Inteftines,  and 
Oefophagus,  together  with  a  violent  Convul- 
fion  of  the  abdominal  Mufcles  and  Diaphragm, 
which  in  a  lefs  degree  caufe  Loathing  or  Nau- 
fea, and  in  a  greater  degree  excite  Vomiting* 
But  the  Caufes  hereof  are  too  great  a  Quanti- 
ty *  or  Acrimony  3  of  what  is  taken  into  the 
Stomach  ;  an  Irritation  from  fomething  poi- 
fonous  3  fome  Injury  of  the  Brain4 ,  either  by 
wounding,  Contufion,  Compreffion,  or  In- 
flammation 3  from  fome  Inflammation  of  the 
Diaphragm,  Stomach^  Inteftines,  Liver,  Spleen, 
Kidneys,  Pancreas,  or  Myfentery ;  from  an  Ir- 
ritation 5  of  the  Gula,  or  a  difturbed  Motion 
of  the  Spirits  by  nnufual  Agitations  of  the  Bo- 
dy, either  in  a  Coach 6,  or  upon  the  Sea,  &c. 
or  laftly,  from  the  difagreeable  Idea  7  of  fome 
things  which  often  excite  Loathing  or-  vo- 
miting. 

1  If  a  healthy  Man  fwallows  a  Piece  of  Thread, 
and  again  iuddenly  draws  it  out  again  from  his 
Throat  by  one  End,  a  Naufea  ancj  Inclination  to 

vomit 


1 6  The  Symptoms  of  Djfeafes.  §.809, 

vomit  follows ;  or  if  he  puts  his  Finger  behind 
the  Root  of  his  Tongue,  the  whole  Stomach  will 
be  affected  and  throw  up  its  Contents.  Loathing 
therefore  feems  to  follow  when  the  natural  periftal- 
tic  Motion  of  the  Stomach  and  Inteftines  is  invert- 
ed from  below  upward  in  a  retrograde  Courfe. 
Wepfer,  Bruner,  and  Peycr,  who  have  accurately 
enquired  into  thefe  Parts,  inform  us,  that  the 
whole  Bufinefs  of  Digeftion  is  well  performed,  as 
long  as  the  perillaltic  Motion  continues  fucceffively 
from  above  downward.  But  when  thofe  Gentle- 
men opened  animals,  after  giving  them  emetic 
Medicines,  they  faw  the  periftaltic  Motion  invert- 
ed from  the  Anus  upward.  If  now  this  inverted 
Motion  is  accompany'd  with  a  Convulfion  of  the 
Diaphragm  and  abdominal  Mufcles,  the  Stomach 
is  then  in  a  manner  fqueezed  betwixt  two  Prefles, 
and  throws  up  its  Contents  by  Vomit.  They  who 
are.  troubled  with  Vomiting  from  this  Caufe,  have 
it  not  inceflant,  but  it  returns  at  Intervals  after  each 
Convulfion. 

1  From  taking  too  large  a  Quantity  even  of  the 
moft  healthy  Food  into  the  Stomach,  there  follows 
firft  a  Naufea,  and  afterwards  a  vomiting. 

3  Even  the  Sal  Abfinthii,  which  is  fo  univerfal- 
ly  ufed  by  Phyficians  to  allay  vomiting,  is  never- 
thelefs  able  by  its  Acrimony  to  excite  Vomiting  if 
taken  in  too  large  a  Quantity. 

4  When  a  Vertigo  or  Giddinefs  appears,  the  Pa- 
tient may  afTure  himfelf  that  Vomiting  is  at  hand, 
or  will  fhortly  follow,  whether  the  Brain  be  in- 
jured by  Compreffure,  from  extravafated  Blood, 
or  from  any  other  Caufe. 

5  OarJick,  Onions,  Leeks,  Horfe-radifli,  Pep- 
per and  Ginger,  taken  in  a  fmali  and  moderate 
Quantity,  ftrengthen  the  Stomach,  promote  Dige- 
ftion, and  reftrain  Vomiting;  but  if  thefe  are  ta- 
ken 


8 to.  Hjc  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  I  f 

ken  in  too  great  a  Quantity,  they  even  excite 
Vomiting. 

6  People  v/ho  are  not  ufed  to  riding  in  a  Coach, 
are  often  troubled  with  a  Loathing  and  Sicknefs  at 
Stomach,  which  is  frequently  followed  with  a  Vo- 
miting, more  efpecially  when  they  ride  with  their 
Back  to  the  Horfes.  But  upon  a  rough  Sea  few 
People  efcape  vomiting,  infomuch  that  Navis  & 
Ship  feems  to  derive  its  name  from  Naufea.  At 
firft  they  perceive  no  Uneafinefs,  but  by  degrees 
a  Pain  is  felt  in  the  upper  Orifice  of  the  Stomach, 
which  is  foon  followed  with  a  Naufea  or  Loath- 
ing, and  at  length  a  Vomitings  firft  of  the  Ali- 
ments contained  in  the  Stomach,  and  then  of  a 
fait  Water,  and  at  laft  of  Bile. 

7  I  know  fome  People  in  perfect  Health,  to 
whom  the  Phyfician  having  order'd  Purges  to  be 
taken  for  eight  Days  fuccefiively,  at  laft  they  be- 
came Tick  even  at  the  fight  of  the  Cup,  in  which 
the  Medicine  was  ufed  to  be  taken;  which  is  fome- 
thing  wonderful.  Any  Perfon  who  has  eat  a 
fmall  Quantity  of  the  Cicuta  aqaatica  Gefneri,  and 
retains  even  but  a  Mouthful  in  his  Stomach,  it  oc- 
cafions  the  moft  fevere  convulfions  of  all  kinds,  a 
Te'tanos  in  which  the  whole  Body  is  ftifT,  an  Opi- 
fthotonos  in  which  the  Body  is  convulfed  back- 
ward, and  at  length  Death  itfelf  follows  ;  but  if 
the  Patient  fhould  be  lucky  enough  to  difcharge 
by  Vomit  the  fmall  Piece  of  this  Root,  his  Life  is 
faved,  and  he  returns  in  a  little  time  to  himfelf. 
This  demonftrates  the  ftrict  Alliance  or  Confent, 
^vhich  obtains  betwixt  the  Stomach  and  its  Nerves 
with  the  Brain  and  its  common  Senfory. 

§.  8io.  But  the  Cholera  morbus  %  which  is  a 
Violent  Expulfion  of  the  Contents  of  the  Sto- 
C  mach 


1 8  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  810. 

mach  and  Inteftines  both  upward  and  down- 
ward,,proceeds  from  a  like  Convulfion,  which 
excites  Vomiting  (§.  809.),  accompanied  atthe 
fame  time  with  a  ftrong  convulfive  Contraction 
of  the  Inteftines  downward  ;  fo  that  the  Cau- 
fes  are  much  the  fame  in  both  Cafes,  only 
are  more  violent  in  the  prefent,  and  it  follows 
more  efpecially  after  eating  too  much  Summer 
Fruits* ,  and  the  very  hot  Weather1  of  the 
Month  of  Auguft. 

1  The  Cholera  is  a  violent  Difcharge  of  a  bilious 
Matter  by  Vomiting  and  Stool.  It  is  a  moft  vio- 
lent Difeafe,  and  generally  kills  in  the  fpace  of 
twenty-four  Hours  :  for  when  the  two  Orifices  of 
the  irritated  Stomach  are  clofely  contracted,  the 
confined  Matter  fermenting  may  burft  the  Sto- 
mach, as  it  has  been  fometimes  known  to  do,  or 
at  leaft  may  deftroy  the  Patient  by  Convulfions. 
But  even  if  a  paflage  is  given  to  the  confined  Mat- 
ter, the  whole  alimentary  Syftem  is  fo  convulfed, 
as  tooccafion  a  moft  profufe  Difcharge  of  the  Bile, 
Saliva,  and  pancreatic  Juice,  fo  as  even  by  that  to 
weaken  and  kill  the  Patient  j  but  during  the  whole 
time  of  the  Diforder,  all  the  Contents  of  the  Liver 
are  difcharged,  all  the  Humours  appearing  from  the 
firft  like  Bile,  yellow,  as  well  from  the  Gall-bladder 
as  from  the  Liver  itfelf  and  at  laft  it  is  vomited 
up  of  an  intenfe  green  ,  Colour.  The  Effects  in 
this  Diforder  are  the  fame  as  if  the  Patient  had 
taken  too  great  a  quantity  of  Afarum  or  Stibium, 
which  are  Medicines  as  intenfely  purging  down- 
ward as  vomiting  upward,  when  they  extend  into 
the  Inteftines. 

2  Thefe  Fruits  being  eaten  in  too  great  a  Quan- 
tity in  very  hot  Weather,  and  confined  in  the  warm 

clofe 


§.  8 1 1 .  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  1 9 

clofe  Stomach,  do  there  ferment,  rarify,  and  ge- 
nerate an  elaftic  Matter  like  that  which  arifes  from 
fermenting  Wine  •,  from  whence  proceed  thofe 
wonderful  Tumults  of  the  Stomach  and  Inteftines. 
If  this  Matter  makes  its  efcape  by  Belchings,  it  is 
happy  for  the  Patient  \  but  when  at  the  fame  time 
the  Mouths  of  the  Stomach  are  contracted  clofe 
together,  it  is  diftended  almoft  to  a  degree  of 
burfting,  in  the  fame  manner  as  a  Bottle  or  Cafk 
is  fometimes  fplit  by  the  fermenting  of  its  con- 
tained Ale.  There  is  an  Account  in  the  Philofo- 
phicalTraitfaftions,  N°.  35 1 .  of  a  Man  who  fwelled 
prodigioufly  and  expired,  from  drinking  too  plen- 
tifully of  fermenting  Ale  •,  and  upon  opening  the 
Body,  the  Inteftines  were  found  diftended  to  twelve 
times  their  ufual  Diameter  •,  fo  great  is  the  power 
of  thefe  elaftic  Vapours  when  confined. 

3  Sydenham  affirms  from  his  own  Obfervations, 
in  oppofition  to  the  generality  of  Phyficians,  that 
this  Diforder  often  arifes  from  a  hot  Seafon,  which 
difTolves  the  Humours  and  determines  them  to- 
wards the  Inteftines,  which  are  then  relaxed  and 
afford  little  Refiftance  from  the  fame  Caufe  ;  and 
he  obferves,  that  the  Month  of  Auguft  is  more  re- 
markable than  the  reft  for  producing  the  Diforder, 
becaufe  then  the  Heats  are  ufually  the  greateft.  It 
is  of  fo  malignant  and  violent  a  Nature,  that  it  re- 
duces the  ftrongeft  Habit  to  extreme  Weaknefs  in 
an  Hour's  time,  and  in  a  few  Hours  more  occa- 
fions  Convulfions  and  Death,  from  Inanition  of 
the  VefTels. 

§.811.  Belching  is  an  explofive  Eruption 
of  elaftic  Matter  \  expelled  by  a  convulfive 
Contraction  of  the  Fibres  of  the  Oefophagus, 
Stomach,  and  Inteftines,  being  firft  comprelfed 
C  2  and 


20  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  8i*. 

and  foon  after  fet  at  liberty  from  its  Confine- 
ment in  thefe  Parts ;  but  thefe  elaftic  Vapours 
themfelves  are  generated  from  Crudities,  Indi- 
geftion,  Putrefaction,  or  Acrimony  of  things 
contained  in  the  Stomach,  as  Garden-fruits, 
Mi/ ft z  or  new  Wine,  fermenting  Liquors, 
poiforis,  every  thing  powerfully  acrimonious, 
or  finally  corrculfn-e  1  Difeafes  themfelves. 

1  In  all  Food  taken  from  Vegetables,  there  is 
i .  An  elaftic  Matter.  2.  A  Spafrn  which  contracts 
the  Oefaphagus  above  and  below  the  elaftic  Matter, 
g.  An  Endeavour  of  this  elaftic  Matter  to  fee  if- 
ielf  at  liberty,  which  is  proportionable  to  the  com- 
preulng  Power.  4.  A  violent  Explofion  or  Erup- 
tion of  the  fame  Matter  after  the  Spafm  or  Con- 
traction of  the  Oefophagus  is  removed.  How  great 
the  Power  of  Heat  is  in  producing  thefe  Diforders 
may  appear  to  any  one  who  confiders,  that  Fire  is 
capable  of  expanding  rnoft  Bodies  above  a  thoufand 
times  greater  than  their  natural  Bulk.  If  an  Ounce 
of  crude  Tartar  be  put  into  a  chemical  Veffel, 
from  whence  the  greateft  Part  of  the  Air  is  after-' 
wards  extracted  and  the  Veffel  fealed  up  if  now 
fo  great  a  Heat  is  applied  to  the  Veffel  as  will  fuf- 
fice  to  melt  the  Tartar,  the  Veffel  will  be  imme- 
diately burft  into  Pieces  with  a  Noife  no  lefs  than 
if  it  was  filled  with  Gunpowder. 

Caiks  which  contain  fermenting  Liquors  are 
often  burft  by  the  elaftic  Vapours  generated  in  the 
Fermentation,  unlefs  there  is  a  fmall  Aperture  left 
in  theCafk  above,  by  which  they  may  efcape. 
1  When  too  great  a  Quantity  of  elaftic  Air  is 
enerated  in  the  Inteftines  of  a  healthy  Perfon,  the 
rapours  may  quite  change  the  natural  Pofition  of 
she  Stomach  and  Inteftines.    I  obferved  once  my- 

kit 


§.  8 12.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  2 1 

felf  the  lnteftines  quite  inverted  by  Flatus,  that 
Part  of  them  together  with  the  Omentum  being 
turned  towards  the  Back  which  ought  to  have  lain 
before.  A  remarkable  cafe  of  this  kind  may  be 
feen  related  by  Mr.  St.  Andre  in  the  Pbilofophical 
¥ ran} aftions ,N°.  3 5 1 .  A  nd  from  hence  al fo  arife  thofe 
wonderful  Tumours  of  the  Abdomen,  after  the  ta- 
king of  Poifons.  Some  People  have  had  their 
Abdomen  burft,  after  the  Stomach  itfeK  has  been 
broke  open,  from  the  taking  of  fome  Poifons,  in- 
fomuch  that  it  is  a  common  Phrafe  in  moft  Lan- 
guages, that  Poifon  makes  People  fwell  till  they 
burn:.  It  is  alfo  from  thefe  elaftic  Vapours  that 
thofe  Anxieties  or  Opprefiions  arife  which  moled 
Men  of  Letters,  and  thofe  who  lead  a  fedentary  life, 
who  are  much  troubled  with  Crudities  in  the 
prima  via. 

§,  812.  The  periftaltic  or  expulftve  AcTion 
of  the  Stomach  and  lnteftines  is  alfo  injur'd  in 
a  Lientary\  which  is  a  quick  Expulfion  of 
the  Aliments  by  Stool  foon  after  they  have 
been  taken  into  the  Stomach,  from  which  and 
the  Bowels  the  Food  appears  to  have  receiv'd 
little  or  no  Alteration  ;  the  Caufe  of  which  is 
an  Inactivity  of  the  Humours  employ 'd  in 
Chylification,  together  with  the  Caufes  of  In- 
appetency  (§.  803.)  and  of  Indigeftion  (807.) 
accompany'd  with  a  great  Relaxation  of  the 
Stomach  and  lnteftines,  Refpiration  being  in 
the  mean  time  ftrong  enough. 

■  A  Lientary  is  a  Diforder  in  which  the  Food 
paffes  immediately  thro?  the  Stomach  into  the  ln- 
teftines without  being  retained  or  altered.  It  is  a 
Diforder  which  frequently  arifes  from  a  Pally  of 
the  Stomach  or  its  Pylorus,  the  Force  of  Refpira- 
C  3  tipa 


2  2  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  813, 

tion  in  the  mean  time  continuing  to  prefs  the  Con- 
tents of  the  Stomach  into  the  Inteftines  thro'  the 
relaxed  Pylorus,  which  in  this  Cafe  affords  little 
or  no  Refiftance.  This  Diforder  would  continu- 
ally happen,  even  in  the  mod  healthy  People,  if 
the  Food  was  not  retained  a  confiderable  time  in 
the  Stomach  and  fmall  Inteftines  by  their  con- 
tractile Force.  From  the  preceding  Idea  of  this 
Diieafe  I  have  often  happily  cured  the  fame ;  for 
it  depends  entirely  on  a  Weaknefs  and  Relaxation 
of  thefe  Parts. 

Ȥ.  8 1 3.  If  Chyle  is  difcharged  together  with 
the  inteftinal  Fseces,  the  Diforder  is  termed 
the  cczliac  1  Affeftion,  the  Caufes  of  which 
feem  to  be  too  great  a  Laxity  of  the  Inteftines, 
while  the  Stomach  and  digeftive  Humours  re- 
tain their  due  Strength;  or  it  may  likewife  pro- 
ceed from  an  ObftrucTion  of  the  Orifices  of 
the  lacteal  Veffels  from  any  Caufe. 

1  This  is  a  very  rare  Difeafe,  and  hardly  ever 
once  obferved  by  myfelf,  at  leaft  in  the  manner  it 
is  defcnbed  by  Authors.  For  this  Diforder  fup- 
pofes  the  Stomach  to  be  found,  but  the  Py  lorus  to 
be  too  much  relaxed  or  dilated;  lb  that  the  Chyle 
is  not  Cowly  but  haftily  urged  forward,  together 
with  the  inteftinal  Fsces.  Add  to  this  an  Obftruc- 
tion  in  the  lacteal  and  abforbing  Vefleis,  by  which 
the  Chyle  is  refufed  Admittance  ;  as  for  Example, 
when  the  prima  via  are  infefted  with  Apthas,  or  a 
fort  of  Cruft:  lines  the  whole  internal  Surface  of  the 
Inteftines  ;  and  in  this  Cafe,  which  is  more  pro- 
perly the  Caufe  of  a  Lientary,  the  inteftinal  Fsces 
are  difcharged  little  or  nothing  putrefied. 

§.  814.  A 


§.  814.  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  23 

§.814.  A  Diarrhea  \  is  a  frequent  and 
copious  Difcharge  of  the  inteftinal  Faeces  in  a 
fluid  State,  proceeding  either  from  the  Food, 
Drink,  or  various  Humours  depofited  from 
any  part  into  the  Inteftines.  But  the  Caufe 
of  this  Diforder,  is  fome  Acrimony  irritating 
the  Inteftines  and  forcing  out  their  Humours, 
as  the  Bile  and  pancreatic  Juices,  with  thofe 
derived  from  the  mefenteric  and  inteftinal 
Vejfeh  \  while  at  the  fame  time  the  Mouths 
of  the  abforbing  and  la&eal  Veins  are  ob- 
ftru&ed  ;  it  may  alfo  proceed  from  a  too 
great  Laxity  3  of  the  Fibres  of  the  Inteftines, 
or  from  fome  of  the  other  Secretions  being 
obftrudted. 

1  So  long  as  the  inteftinal  Fasces  are  difcharged 
in  a  fluid  State  without  Pain  or  a  Tenefmus,  the 
Diforder  is  termed  a  Diarrhsea-,  but  when  joined 
with  Pain  and  a  Tenefmus,  it  is  termed  a  Dy- 
fentary. 

1  The  feveral  Plumours  of  the  Body  may  be 
almofl  all  of  them  depofited  by  the  VefTels  into 
the  Interlines  as  for  Example,  when  the  Liver 
is  obftrucled,  the  Blood  being  denied  a  PafTage 
through  the  Vena  Porta  and  its  Branches,  will 
occafion  a  Dilatation  of  the  mefenteric  Arteries, 
whofe  exhaling  Orifices  being  from  hence  enlarged, 
will  depofit  fincere  Blood  into  the  Inteftines.  But 
PafTages  which  are  large  enough  to  admit  Blood, 
may  more  eafily  tranimit  any  of  the  other  Hu- 
mours ;  hence  we  have  Diarrhea's  of  various 
kinds,  ferous,  mucous,  bloody,  &c.  It  is  alfo 
to  beobferved,  that  Spaw- waters  drank  very  plen- 
tifully, make  their  way  through  the  Bowels. 

C  4  In 


24  Tfo  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.815. 

-  3  In  a  ftrong  Perfon,  tho'  there  is  a  great  Quan- 
tity of  Humours  difcharged  into  the  Boweis,  and 
tho'  he  drinks  much  Water,  yet  a  Diarrhea  does 
not  follow,  unlefs  there  is  alfo  a  paralytic  Difprder 
in  the  mufcular  Fibres  of  the  Inteftin  s  5  ior  then 
the  lymphatic  or  fefous  Juices  continue  tQ  be  fe- 
parated  into  the  Inteftines,  but  are  not  pnfled 
again  into  the  abforbing  VelTels,  while  in  the  mean 
time  the  inteftinal  Contents  are  urged  forward  by 
the  Power  of  Refpiration.  The  Cure  of  this  Dis- 
order will  confift  in,  opening  the  Pores  of  the  Skin 
fo  as  to  promote  Perfpiration,  for  by  that  means 
the  Bowels  are  conftipated  as  Hippocrates  te!ls  us. 

§.  815.  ADyfentery  is  aDiarrhaeavfrith  a  7^- 
nefmus  \  and  confiderable  Pain  %  the  Matter, 
being  the  fame  as  in  a  Diarrha3a  but  (harper, 
and  compofed  for  the  moft  part  of  Bile,  Serum, 
Blood,  Mucus  of  the  Inteftines,  Matter,  Sord- 
es,  Atrabilis,  Fibres,  Caruncles  or  lacerated 
Membranes,  &c.  It  has  alfo  the  fame  Caufes 
with  a  Diarrhaea,  only  more  violent,  being  often 
from  the  Acrimony  of  fome  Humours,  an 
Inflammation  \  Ulcer  or  Gangrene,  either  in, 
the  Inteftines,  or  in  thofe  Parts  which  depofit 
their  foul  Humours  into  the  Inteftines. 

1  A  Tenefmus  is  a  painful  Inclination  to  Stool, 
without  being  abie  to,  make  any  Difcharge  5  and 
the  Caufe  is  generally  an  Inflammation  of  the  in- 
ternal Membrane  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Rectum. 

4  This  Pain  is  chiefly  in  the  Ilium  for  if  it  is 
in  the  Colon,  it  occafions  a  continual  and  trouble- 
fome  Irritation  to  Stool.  In  a  Diarrhasa  the  Nerves 
of  the  Inteftines  feem  to  be  covered  over  with  a 
Cruilj  but  in  a  Dy  fernery  that  Cruft  is  abraded 

and 


§.  8 1 6.  The  Symptoms  of  D  if  cafes.  2  5 

and  the  Nerves  expofed.  Hence  Hippocrates  tells 
us,  that  a  Dyfentery  follows  a  Diarrhea,  that 
from  a  Dyfentery  follows  a  Tenefmus,  and  fronj 
a  Tenefmus  Death.  For  the  Matter  of  a  Dyfen- 
tery is  more  acrimonious  than  a  Diarrhoea,  being 
derived  into  the  Inteftines  either  from  the  Liver, 
Spleen,  Pancreas  or  Stomach,  or  from  an  Ulcer, 
Cancer,  or  Scirrhus  turning  cancerous  in  the  Parts 
adjacent. 

3  But  an  Inflammation  is  not  perpetually  the 
Cau'e  of  a  Diarrhsea,  unlefs  jpe  may  be  allowed 
the  liberty  of  calling  an  Excoriation  or  uncovering 
of  the  Nerves,  an  Inflammation.  But  fometimes 
there  is  both  a  true  Inflammation  accompanies  a 
Dyfentery,  and  a  fatal  Gangrene  follows. 

§.  816.  The  Iliac  Paflion  is  a  violent  1 
Difcharge  by  the  Mouth  of  thofe  things  which 
are  taken  into  the  Stomach,  either  under  the 
Denomination  of  Food,  Drink  or  Medicine, 
or  elfe  of  the  Chyle,  Bile,  Liquor  of  the  Sto- 
mach, Pancreas  and  Inteftines,  or  6f  Atrabilis, 
Mucus,  Pus,  Ichor,  Faeces  of  the  Inteftines, 
or  Clyfters  z  injected,  &c.  But  the  proximate 
Caufe  of  this  Symptom  feems  to  be  always 
from  the  Motion  of  the  Fibres  of  the  In- 
teftines, being  inverted  3  together  with  the 
Fibres  of  the  Stomach  and  Oefophagus,  at- 
tended with  Vomiting  from  many  of  the 
Caufes  afore-mentioned  (§.  §09,  810)  ;  but 
the  more  remote  Caufe  may  be  an  Inflam- 
mation, Inverfion  of  the  Inteftine,  an  Abfcefs, 
Scirrhus,  Cancer,  an  obftrudting  Stone  or  in- 
durated Faeces,  Hernias  or  a  Convulfion  of  the 
Inteftines.    From  hence  we  may  underftand^ 


26  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  816. 

the  original  Caufe  of  the  Retention  of  the  in- 
durated Faeces,  with  the  Nature  and  Effects 
of  the  Diforder. 

1  An  excruciating  Pain  of  the  Inteftines,  with 
Anxiety,  and  Vomiting  of  every  thing  which 
comes  into  the  fmall  Inteftines  ;  for  the  Matter 
difcharged  by  Vomit,  is  every  thing  which  comes 
into  the  Ilium,  and  not  being  able  to  pafs  through 
that  Inteftine,  is  more  and  more  accumulated, 
violently  diftends  and  injures  the  fenfible  Inteftine 
in  that  Part,  fo  th  *the  Pain  and  Irritation  excites 
a  Convulfion,  which  renders  the  periftaltic  Motion 
inverted  by  which  the  inteftinal  Contents  are 
thrown  upward  and  difcharged  by  vomit.  There 
are  fuch  an  infinite*  Number  of  Nerves  in  the 
Stomach  and  Inteftines,  that  it  is  the  lefs  wonder- 
ful that  the  Iliac  Paflion  fhould  fo  often  kill. 
Ruyfch  is  the  firft  who  has  obferved,  that  a  Wound 
in  the  Nerves  of  the  Mefentery,  though  without 
lofs  of  Blood,  kills  the  Patient  in  three  Days  time 
and  in  this  he  was  confirmed  by  repeated  Obferva- 
tions  in  opening  Sailors,  thirty  of  whom  are 
killed  at  leaft  every  Year  by  ftabbing  each  other 
with  Knives  in  thefe  Parts  ^  but  many  of  them 
were  opened  by  Rnyftb,  to  enquire  into  the  true 
State  of  the  Wound.  But  fince  in  this  Cafe,  the 
Pain  from  a  wounded  Nerve  may  be  fufBcient  to 
kill  the  Patient,  why  may  not  the  fame  Effect 
follow  from  a  mod  intenfe  Pain  in  the  Ilium?  but 
the  external  Surface  of  the  Inteftines  is  truly  a  Con- 
tinuation of  the  Mefentery. 

1  We  are  allured  by  Men  of  undoubted  Vera- 
city, that  not  only  the  Faeces,  but  fometimes  the 
Clyfters  injected  into  the  Bowels,  have  been  dif- 
charged by  vomiting  from  the  Mouth ;  and  the 
Faeces  of  the  large  Inteftines  I  have  myfelf  feen 

difcharged 


§.817.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  27 

difcharged  this  way.  The  laft  Symptoms  are 
not  eafy  to  be  accounted  for.  For  the  Ilius  may 
be  explained  from  the  Obftacle  which  intercepts 
the  Paflage  from  the  Fasces,  but  then  Clyfters 
cannot  be  difcharged  by  the  Mouth,  unlefs  the 
Inteftines  are  pervious  but  if  they  were  pervious, 
why  fhould  the  Clyfter  rather  come  upward  by  the 
Mouth,  than  downward  by  the  Anus?  Befides  this, 
in  order  either  for  a  Clyfter  or  the  Fasces  of  the 
large  Inteftines  to  be  difcharged  this  way,  the 
Valve  of  the  Colon  muft  be  either  broke  or  ren- 
dered Paralytic. 

3  Namely^that  Motion  which  naturally  deter- 
mines the  Chyle  and  Contents  of  the  Interline, 
downwards,  now  preternaturally  determines  them 
upwards.  But  then,  why  mould  Clyfters  be  dif- 
charged out  of  the  large  into  the  fmall  Inteftines, 
fince  thofe  large  Inteftines  were  never  obferved  to 
have  any  periftaltic  Motion  in  the  numerous  Dif- 
fections  made  of  living  Animals  ? 

§.  817.  If  the  Secretion  and  Excretion  1  of 
the  Bile  into  the  Inteftines  is  injured,  the  prin- 
cipal Symptoms  are  thefe  which  follow ;  a 
^Jaundice1,  bilious  Cachexy,  calculus  or  earthy 
Matter  in  the  Liver,  Obftruclions,  Whitenefs, 
Hardnefs  and  Drynefs  of  the  inteftinal  Fasces, 
a  lofs  of  Appetite,  an  impeded  1  Digeftion  of 
the  Food,  a  Hindrance  of  due  Mixture  of  the 
Parts  of  the  Chyle,  a  Tympanites*  or  a  Dropfy : 
the  Caufe  hereof  is  generally  an  Inflammation 
of  the  Liver,  an  Induration,  Obftruclion  or 
fome  kind  of  InfpifTation  of  the  Humours, 
either  in  this,  or  in  fome  other  of  the  ab- 
dominal Vifcera. 

8  Behind 


28  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.817, 

*  Behind  the  Valve  which  clofes  the  Orifice  of 
the  common  biliary  Duel  at  its  entrance  into  the 
Duodenum,  there  is  a  free  Pafiage  by  the  Liver 
throughout  the  whole  Body  ;  but  the  Bile  is  na- 
turally carried  downward  to  the  Inteftines,  fo  long 
as  the  refiftance  there  is  lefs,  nor  can  it  return 
from  the  Inteftines  into  the  common  biliary  Duel. 
But  when  by  any  Caufe  the  Bile  is  more  refilled 
in  its  Courfe  to  the  Inteftines,  it  then  ftagnates  and 
returns  into  the  Blood,  whofe  Texture  it  diflblves. 
like  Soap,  whence  the  Blood  becomes  thin  and 
watery,  fo  that  from  a  Jaundice  follows  a  bilious 
Cachexy,  and  from*  thence  a  D#opfy,  as  was 
rightly  perceived  fo  many  Ages  ago  by  Hippo- 
crates. But  if  the  Bile  ftagnates  any  considerable 
time,  the  more  fluid  Parts  being  diOipated  or  ab- 
forbed,  the  reft  is  infpifiated  into  a  ftony  or  chalky 
Confidence,  with  which  we  frequently  obferve  the 
Orifice  of  the  common  biliary  Duel:  at  the  Duo- 
denum obftructed  ;  and  the  fame  is  alfo  frequently 
obferved  in  thofe  who  have  been  violently  afflicted 
with  the  Jaundice. 

1  A  Difcolouration  of  the  ferous  Part  of  the 
Blood  by  the  Bile,  whence  the  whole  Body  is 
tinged  yellow. 

3  In  this  Cafe,  the  Patient  is  deprived  of  all 
thofe  Benefits  or  Ufes  of  the  Bile,  which  we  before 
enumerated  (§.  99  and  100)  ;  the  tenacious 
Parts  of  the  Food  are  not  diffolved,  and  therefore 
the  Chyle  is  not  duly  attenuated  and  uniformly 
mixed,  but  continues  ferous,  and  renders  the  Blood 
watery  ;  nor  can  Oil  eve r  enter  into  the  Blood  from 
the  Aliments,  unlefs  it  be  nrft  reduced  and  attenu- 
ated by  the  Bile. 

4  Some  Part  of  the  Inteftines  being  confumed, 
f  latus  has  been  known  to  efcape  out  of  them  into, 

the 


§.  8i9«  72*  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  2$ 

the  Abdomen,  fo  as  to  caufe  a  Tympanites  or  dry 
Dropfy.  But  the  more  the  Abdomen  is  diftended, 
the  more  are  the  Inteftines  comprerTed,  fo  that 
their  VefTels  admit  nothing,  whence  follows  a 
Confumption  of  the  word  kind.  In  other  Cafes 
the  like  Diforders  have  followed  from  Worms 
eating  their  way  through  the  Inteftines. 

§.  818.  But  if  the  Separation  of  Lymph  or 
its  Diftribution  is  injured  in  the  Pancreas, 
Liver,  or  Inteftines,  it  eaufes  almoft  the  like\ 
Symptoms  with  thofe  before-mentioned  (§. 
817)5  and  will  be  produced  by  the  like 
Caufes. 

1  The  Ghyle  ought  to  fupply  the  Blood  with 
as  much  Humours,  as  there  are  abforbed  or  drawn 
off  from  thence  ;  for  without  this,  the  Blood 
would  foon  become  dry  and  impervious.  When 
therefore  the  Chyle  ceafes  to  be  diluted  with  thinner 
Humours  in  the  Inteftines,  it  produces  grofs  and 
dry  Fasces,  which  may  grow  to  the  Sides  of  the; 
Inteftines,  and  occafion  the  Iliac  Pallion. 

§.  819.  The  Alteration  made  in  the  Blood 
by  the  Heart,  is  from  its  Reception*  Stay, 
and  Expulfion^  which  Motions  being  too* 
quick,  produce  continual  ardent  and  violent 
Fevers  but  if  it  ftays  longer  than  it  ought  in 
the  Heart,  or  if  its  Expulfion  from  thence  is 
too  languid,  the  Cor.fequences  are  Faintings, 
polypous  Concretions  \  Cold*,  Phlegm,  Chil- 
linefs,  Leucophlegmacy,  Dropfy,  and  along 
Train  of  different  Diforders  arifing  from 
thefe. 

Thofe 


30  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  820. 

1  Thofe  who  have  been  fubjedt  to  frequent 
Faintings  and  Palpitations  of  the  Heart,  being 
opened  after  Death,  have  ufually  polypous  Con- 
cretions found  in  the  Heart,  and  in  the  larger  Blood- 
vefTels. 

1  Namely,  when  one  part  of  the  Humours  ceafes 
to  drive  forward  the  other,  then  thofe  which  en- 
tered into  the  fmaller  lateral  Veffels  are  not  re- 
turned into  the  Heart,  but  ftagnate,  and  by  de- 
grees produce  an  Inclination  to  a  Dropfy. 

§.  820.  The  Action  of  the  Lungs* ,  injured 
either  with  refpect  to  Refpiration  or  the  Tranf- 
miffion  of  the  Blood,  confifts  chiefly  in  the 
Increafe  or  Diminution  of  their  Efficacy  upon 
the  Blood  ;  from  their  Efficacy  increased, 
feems  to  arife  a  phlogiftic  or  inflammatory 
Difpofition,  but  being  diminiffied  impedes  the 
Bufinefs  of  Sanguification  and  Nutrition  ; 
whence  a  Cachexy,  Atrophy,  Phthifis,  and 
an  infinite  Number  of  other  Maladies  -y  but  the 
Caufes  of  their  Action  injured,  may  lie  in 
the  Defects  of  thofe  numerous  Organs  a 
which  we  have  before  defcribed  as  fubfervient 
to  the  Bufinefs  of  Refpiration. 

1  The  Lungs  act  upon  the  Blood,  inafmuch  as 
that  is  an  Affemblage  of  all  the  other  Humours  in 
the  Body  *,  and  therefore  the  Action  of  the  Lungs 
is  continued,  and  produces  its  Effecls  upon  all  the 
Humours  ;  for  the  Lungs  firft  receive  the  crude 
Humours,  and  are  the  firft  Organs  which  atte- 
nuate and  divide  them,  fo  as  to  be  capable  of  flow- 
ing through  all  the  Veflels  of  the  Body,  and  in 
time  to  become  part  of  ourfelves,  by  afTuming  an 

animal 


§.  820.  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  31 

animal  Nature.  When  therefore  the  Action  of  the 
Lungs  is  either  increafed  or  diminifhed,  then  the 
Action  of  the  Body,  or  its  whole  vafcular  Syftem, 
will  be  likewife  proportionally  increafed  or  dimi- 
nifhed upon  their  contained  Fluids.  When  the 
Action  of  the  Lungs  is  diminifhed,  the  Affimila- 
tion  or  Converfion  of  our  alimentary  Juices  into 
good  Blood  is  deftroyed,  and  the  whole  Body  is 
weakened  throughout.  But  the  Powers  of  all  the 
Veflels  which  tranfmitthe  Humours,  depend  upon 
the  applying  Force  of  the  Heart,  by  which  the 
Humours  are  urged  through  VefTels  of  a  particular 
Configuration,  contracting  themfelves  to  their  con- 
tained Humours  and  therefore  the  Action  of  the 
Heart  being  diminifhed,  that  of  the  Lungs,  and 
of  all  ether  Parts  will  be  proportionably  leflened. 
But  all  the  Humours  formed  in  the  human  Body 
muft  of  Neceflity  have  been  firft  prepared  in  the 
Lungs  and  therefore  the  Action  of  the  Lungs 
being  too  much  increafed,  will  occafion  a  too  hafty 
AfTimilation  of  every  thing  which  is  taken  as  Ali- 
ment, whence  the  Body  will  be  difpofed  to  Putre- 
faction and  this  Difpofition  will  be  continued 
throughout  all  the  Humours  at  the  fame  'time  ; 
becaufe  the  Lungs  are  a  fort  of  Compendium  of 
the  whole  Body,  whence  there  will  be  a  perpetual 
Neceflity  of  taking  in  frelh  or  crude  Aliments, 
which  may  refift  Putrefaction.  But  when  the 
Action  of  the  Lungs  is  diminifhed,  all  the  ali- 
mentary Juices  are  too  (lowly,  or  not  at  all  afllmi- 
lated,  whence  Crudities,  Cacochymia, 

4  Nothing  is  more  worthy  of  Admiration  in  the 
human  Body,  than  that  furprizing  Syftem  of  Or- 
gans, employed  without  ceafing  in  the  Bufinefs  of 
Relpiration.  The  Creator  has  in  a  manner  made 
the  human  Body  twofold  ;  the  former  part  of 
which  is  the  Lungs  only,  wherein  there  are  as 

great 


3  2  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  82  i* 

great  a  Number,  and  as  many  Kinds  of  VefTels 
as  throughout  all  the  reft  of  the  Body.  In  order 
therefore  for  the  grofler  Humours  to  be  attenuated 
into  the  moft  fubtle  in  the  Lungs,  thefe  laft  are 
furnifhed  with  VefTels  equally  fmall  with  thofe  in 
any  other  part  of  the  Body,  that  fo  every  Series  of 
the  VefTels  might  be  fupplied  with  their  adequate 
Humour  and  therefore  the  Lungs  labour  for  the 
whole  Body,  whofe  Condition  mull  be  therefore 
anfwerable  to  that  of  the  Lungs. 

§.  821.  The  principal  Symptoms  of  the: 
urinary  Secretion  injured,  are  i.  an  Ifchuria 
or  perfect  Retention  of  the  Urine  in  the  Body 
\vithout  being  able  >to  difcharge  any  of  it ;  the 
principal  Caufes  of  which,  are  a  Plethora  \ 
an  Inflammation 2  of  the  Kidneys,  Ureters  \ 
Bladder,  Neck  of  the  Bladder  and  Urethra  4, 
or  an  Obftrudlion  of  the  fame  Parts  by  Com- 
freffure^  a  fpafmodic  or  convulfive  Con- 
flriftion  6,  a  Stone,  phlegmatic  7  Matter,  Pus, 
congealed  Blood 8,  Caruncles 9,  a  Tumor  or 
an  Abfcefs. 

*  Namely,  when  the  Arteries  are  fo  turgid 
with  Blood  as  to  comprefs  the  uriniferous  Tubes 
in  the  Kidneys. 

%  And  for  the  fame  Reafon,  there  is  often  no 
Urine  feparated  in  ardent  Fevers,  attended  with  the 
moft  acute  Pain  in  the  Loins  from  an  Inflam- 
mation of  the  Kidneys. 

3  That  the  Ureters  themfelves  may  be  inflamed, 
is  evident  from  the  Obfervation  of  Nucke  and 
they  appear  likewife  in  an  inflamed  State,  when 
their  Veflels  are  exhibited  by  Injedion  according 
a  to 


§,82i.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.    3  3 

to  Ruyfcb.  But  rhefe  are  more  efpecially  inflamed 
by  Calculi,  obftructed  in  their  PafTage  through 
thefe  Tubes  from  the  Kidneys  into  the  Bladder. 

4  The  Urethra  is  frequently  liable  to  Obftruc- 
tion  alter  rhe  venereal  Difeafe,  when  the  Parts 
have  been  lefr  more  obnoxious  to  an  Inflammation 
from  a  preceding  Gonorrhoea  ;  and  a  Retention 
of  the  Urine  in  the  Bladder,  from  this  Cauie,  is 
frequently  to  be  met  with. 

s  As  when  the  diftended  Arteries  comprefs  the 
uriniferous  Duels,  or  when  the  lame  E fifed:  is  pro- 
duced by  a  Calculus.  Hence  we  may  be  able  to 
give  an  Anfwer,  why  an  Ifchuria  often  becomes 
fatal  in  thole  who  have  only  an  Obftruclion  of 
one  Kidney,  the  other  remaining  entire  \  namely, 
becaufe  in  that  Cafe  the  other  Kidney  is  fo  much 
overcharged  with  Blood,  that  it  becomes  inflamed, 
whence  the  uriniferous  Tubes  in  that  are  like  wife 
compreiTed,  and  upon  opening  the  Body  one 
Kidney  is  found  obftructed  with  a  Calculus,  and 
the  other  wholly  deftroyed  by  the  Inflammation 
and  Abfcefs  and  in  this  Cafe  the  Diforder  is  in- 
curable. 

6  Hence  People  feldom  think  of  making  Wa- 
ter, unlefs  they  are  admonimed,  when  they  arc 
taken  up  with  intenfe  Paflions  of  the  Mind. 

7  Namely,  a  mucilaginous  Matter  capable  of 
being  drawn  out  into  Threads  like  Bird-lime, 
which  may  then  obftruct  thefe  narrow  PafFages. 

0  When  Blood  extravafated  into  the  Pelvis  of 
the  Kidney  congeals  into  Grumes,  as  they  pafs 
from  thence  into  the  Ureter  and  Bladder,  an  Ob- 
ftruction  is  by  this  means  generally  iormed  either 
in  the  Ureter  or  Urethra.  I  have  myfelf  feen 
Blood  concreted  fo  as  to  put  on  the  Shape  of  a 
Worm  in  the  Urethra,  from  whence  we  were 
obliged  to  extract  it  by  a  Hook.    Of  this  dif- 

D  order 


3  4   'fhe  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.821. 

order  perihhed  that  confiderable  Anatomift  Dre- 
lincourt. 

9  There  are  fome  of  the  Moderas  who  deny  the 
Poffibility  of  fuch  Caruncles  being  formed  in  the 
Urethra  ;  and  there  is  a  particular  DifTertation 
publifhed  in  favour  of  this  Opinion  by  Brunner; 
but  I  have  myfelf  feen  venereal  Warts  or  Ex- 
crefcencies  grow  up  "in  the  Urethra,  where  ti  e 
Duels  of  the  feminal  Veffels  proftrate,  and  Coni- 
fer's Glands  open  into  its  Cavity,  refembling  thofe 
Warts  and  Excrefcencies  which  are  commonly 
known  to  grow  upon  the  Glans  and  external  Parts 
of  the  Penis  in  the  fame  Diforder     and  thefe  I 
have  removed  by  the  Application  of  ftrong  Tur- 
beth  Mineral.    Thefe  Excrefcencies  are  frequent 
in  the  Glans,  and  well  known  to  every  one  ;  but 
in  the  Urethra  they  are  the  fame  tho'  lefs  known. 
A  Caruncle  is  alfo  frequently  formed  in  the  Urethra 
for  want  of  due  Caution  in  the  Cicatrization  of  an 
Ulcer  in  that  Parr,  the  PafTage  of  the  Urethra  be- 
ing obstructed  by  the  Protuberance  or  Cicatrix. 
Hippocrates  of  old  has  pronounced,  that  Caruncles 
arife  in  the  Urethra,  which  are  to  be  removed  by 
Suppuration    but  the  Caruncles  which  appear  in 
our  Days  will  not  fuppurate ;  which  demonftrates 
them  to  be  of  a' different  Nature  from  thofe  of 
Hippocrates,  which  were  of  a  flefhy  Nature,  whereas 
our  Caruncles  are  more  compact:  and  callous.  Ic 
is  a  bad  Practice  in  this  Cafe,  to  apply  Mercurius 
fublimatus  upon  a  wax  Candle ;  for  by  that  means 
an  incurable  Ulcer  is  often  excited  to  the  great 
Damage  of  the  Patient.    Another  almoft  incre- 
dible Diforder  I  have  feen  arife  from  an  Ulceration 
of  the  internal  Surface  of  the  Urethra,  and  that 
within  the  fpace  of  eight  or  ten  Hours  fleeping, 
during  which  time  the  Patient  abftaining  from 
Drink,  the  excoriated  Parts  concreted  together,  in 

the 


§.822.  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.    3  5 

the  fame  manner  as  the  Margins  of  the  Eye-lids, 
Lips  and  Fingers  often  grow  together  when  de- 
prived of  their  Skin  by  an  Ulceration  ;  and  this 
kind  of  Diforder  very  difficultly  admits  of  being 
cured — To  thefe  Caufes  of  an  Ifchuria,  add  too 
long  a  Retention  of  Urine  in  the  Bladder,  by 
Which  the  mufcular  Fabric  of  that  Receptacle  is 
rendered  Paralytic.  I  have  fometimes  (hut  up  a 
Dog  deftined  for  DifTeclion,  and  the  timorous 
Animal  has  retained  his  Urine  fo  long,  that  upon 
opening  the  Body  the  Bladder  has  been  found  ex- 
tremely turgid,  and  by  prefTing  it  nothing  could 
be  difcharged  thro'  the  Urethra ;  but  by  making  a 
fmall  Puncture  thro'  its  Membranes,  the  Bladder 
has  contracted  itfelf  fo  clofely  into  a  Ball,  that 
there  has  been  no  Poflibility  of  pafiing  any  thing 
thro'  its  Neck.  But  in  this  Cafe  the  miferable 
Animal  might  have  been  relieved  by  the  Ca- 
theter. 

§.  822.  The  fecond  Symptom  is  termed  a 
Dyfuria,  wherein  the  Urine  is  difcharged  with 
Pain,  Straining  and  Uneafinefs,  of  which  the 
Stranguria  1  is  a  Species,  wherein  the  Urine 
is  difcharged  by  Droos,  or  in  a  fmall  Thread, 
or  with  a  fenfe  of  fcalding  :  but  the  Caufes  of 
both  thefe  Diforders  are  manifold,  namely, 
the  Acrimony  of  Liquors  drank,  more  efpe- 
cially  of  new  and  fermenting  Ale  %  Wine  or 
the  Settlings  of  either;  an  Acrimony  of  the 
Humours  themfelves,  either  acid,  ammoni- 
acal,  alcaline,  oily,  aromatic  or  bilious ;  an 
Excoriation  1  of  the  membranous  Parts  them- 
felves, either  of  the  Bladder  or  Uretji'ra,  by 
an  Inflammation,  Ulcer,  rough  Stone,  or  the 
D  z  Ufe 


3  6   The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.822. 

Ufe  of  any  thing canjlic*>  more  cfpecially  fome 
Infe&s ;  tartly,  a  Calculus  or  Tumor  oc- 
cluding the  Neck  of  the  Bladder  or  its  Ure- 
thra. 

1  The  Strangury,  which  is  a  dripping  Difcharge 
of  the  Urine  with  great  Pain  and  Straining,  fre- 
quently arifes  from  the  Piles  in  the  Reclum. 

4  More  efpecially  when  Ale  has  loft  its  Spirit ; 
and  vapid  or  flat  Wines  do  likewife  caufe  a  Stran- 
gury the  Day  after  they  have  been  drank.  Some- 
times the  drinking  of  new  Ale  by  People  who 
have  been  ufed  to  better  Liquor,  produces  the  like 
Diforder,  and  from  this  Caufe  the  Mucus  of  the 
Bladder  has  been  known  to  be  lb  much  abraded 
in  young  People  as  to  put  on  the  Appearance  of 
a  true  Gonorrhea. 

3  When  a  Stone  lies  in  the  Bladder,  and  efpe- 
cially when  it  has  a  rough  Surface,  it  ftimulates  the 
fenfible  Membranes  of  that  Receptacle  to  Excretion, 
abrades  their  defending  Mucus,  fo  as  to  excite  Pain 
where  the  Stone  lies,  with  a  perpetual  Defire  of 
emptying  the  Bladder,  which  contracting  about 
the  Stone  after  the  Urine  is  difcharged,  excites  a 
Pain  like  that  of  burning,  or  like  what  is  pro- 
duced by  a  Cauftic  or  corroding  Subftance  con- 
fined in  the  Bladder.  I  have  feen  the  referable 
Patient  fometimes  fo  cruelly  tormented  by  a  Stone 
wedged  into  the  Neck  of  the  Bladder,  that  they 
have  flood  upon  their  Head  and  thrown  their 
Heels  upward,  in  order  to  make  the  Stone  fall 
towards  the  Fundus  of  the  Bladder  fo  that  in 
this  Pofture  and  no  other  have  they  been  able  to 
difcharge  their  Urine.  I  keep  by  me  fome  of  thefe 
Stones  fhaped  like  a  Pear,  with  which  the  Opening 
of  the  Urethra  has  been  perfectly  flopped  up. 


i 


There 


§.822.  The  Sympt o?7ts  of  Difeafes.  3  7 

4  There  have  been  fome  Phyficians  who  by 
an  abfurd  and  almoft  unpardonable  Miftake,  have 
recommended  theUfe  of  Cantharides  for  the  Cure 
of  a  Gonorrhea  ;  when  at  the  fame  time  the  Na- 
ture of  the  Diforder  is  fuch  as  admits  of  a  Cure 
only  by  the  mod  imooth  and  balfamic  Medicines, 
together  with  thofe  which  difTolve  the  Blood  with- 
out Acrimony.  But  Cantharides,  whether  taken 
internally  or  applied  to  the  Skin,  caufe  Strangury 
or  Difficulty  in  making  Water,  being  frequently 
attended  with  fuch  Straining  that  the  Blood  itfelf 
often  follows.  I  have  feen  thefe  Confequences 
follow  from  taking  the  Tincture  of  Cantharides 
defcribed  by  Bartholin,  which  is  made  with  Spirit 
of  Nitre ;  and  I  can  afTert  from  Experience,  that 
this  Tincture  and  the  like  Medicines  always  ex- 
afperates  this  Diforder  which  it  is  intended  to  re- 
lieve. For  there  are  many  poifonous  Animals 
which  exert  their  virulence  upon  fome  particular 
Member  of  the  Body  ;  as  the  Serpent  Dipfas  and 
the  Viper  affect  the  Liver  and  caufe  a  Jaundice, 
the  Lepus  Marinus  affects  the  Lungs,  and  Can- 
tharides the  urinary  Bladder — To  thefe  Caufes  of 
the  Strangury,  add  that  which  follows  from  a 
Weaknefs  in  the  Parts  by  old  Age.  Young  Men 
difcharge  their  Urine  in  a  full  Stream,  whereas 
Old  Men  empty  the  Bladder  with  Difficulty,  by 
Starts,  and  with  a  Tenefmus.  The  Caufe  thereof 
confifts  in  a  Weaknefs  of  the  Bladder,  and  a 
paralytic  Affection  of  the  Mufcles  ferving  to  expei 
the  Urine,  joined  with  an  Acrimony  of  the  Urine, 
&c.  Old  Men  ought  therefore  to  apply  their 
Finger  to  the  Perinasum  in  order  to  prefs  out  the' 
remaining  drops  of  Urine,  which  may  other-wife 
give  them  uneafinefs. 


S-  823. 


38  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.823. 


§.  823.  The  third  Symptom  of  this  Dif- 

charge,  is  reckoned  an  Incontinency  1  of  Urine, 
when  that  flows  fpontaneoufly  from  the  Bladder 
without  the  Inclination  of  the  Will  or  the 
Force  of  Refpiration ;  and  this  arifes  for  the 
moil  part  from  the  Fibres  of  the  Sphin&er 
Veficae  being  either  relaxed 2  or  paralytic,  di- 
lated, cut  afunder  \  deftroyed  by  a  Suppu- 
ration or  a  Gangrene. 

1  An  Incontinency  of  Urine  follows  when  the 
Sphinter  of  the  Bladder  is  not  clofe  fhut  for  in 
a  natural  State  it  is  always  clofely  contracted,  ex- 
cept when  it  is  opened  by  fome  fuperior  external 
Force  ;  and  it  is  thus  clofed,  not  by  the  Influence 
of  the  Will,  but  by  a  fpontaneous  Contraction  un- 
agreed from  the  Mind. 

2  In  a  healthy  Perfon  not  fo  much  as  a  drop 
of  Liquor  is  involuntarily  difcharged  from  the 
Anus  j  but  when  Lapis  Infernalis  is  taken  into  the 
Bowels  under  the  Denomination  of  the  Hydragog 
of,  Angelas  Sala,  or  Mr.  Boyle,  in  that  Cafe, 
Water  is  difcharged  from  the  Bowels  even  un- 
known to  the  Patient  a  rfianifeft  Indication  that 
this  Medicine  not  only  loofens  the  Bowels,  but 
likewife  relaxes  the  Sphincter  of  the  Anus  to  fuch 
a  degree,  that  its  Force  cannot  refift  the  Contents 
of  the  Rectum.  The  fame  Diforder  may  take 
Place  ;n  the  Sphincter  of  the  Bladder.  ,  When  an 
Incontinency  of  Urine  follows  from  a  lofs  of  Sub- 
ftance  and  Deftruction  of  this  Part,  no  Relief  can 
be  expected  from  the  Phyflcian,  whatever  may  be 
done  by  the  Inftrument  called  a  Yoke  from  the 

,  Hand  of  the  Surgeon  :  but  when  this  Diforder  has 
continued  from  Infancy  from  a  Laxi:y  of  the 

Sphincter, 


§.  823.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  39 

Sphincter,  they  may  be  in  fome  meafure  aflrfted 
*  by  frequent  making  Water, 'as  at  every  Quarter 
of  an  Hour,  till  by  degrees  the  Bladder  becomes 
extremely  irritable  ;  but  they  mould  never  retain 
their  Urine  for  Half  an  Hour  together  when  they 
are  awake,  that  the  Sphincter  may  be  relieved  from 
the  Weight  of  it,  and  they  ought  to  be  awaked  to 
make  Water  three  or  four  times  in  the  Night. 

1  In  cutting  for  the  Stone  in  the  old  way,  there 
is  almoft  constantly  an  Incontinency  of  Urine  fol- 
lows, becaufe  the  Sphincter  of  the  Bladder  is  fo 
much  dilated,  and  often  lacerated  by  introducing 
large  Inftruments  (as  the  Conductor  and  Forceps 
holding  the  Stone,  which  is  ofteir  pulled  out  with 
great  Violence,  infomuch  that  the  Strength  of 
two  Men  is  in  fome  Cafes  hardly  fufficient)  that  it 
cannot  afterwards  entirely  contract  itfelf.  This 
fame  Diforder  frequently  happens  to  Women,  from 
whom  theStone  is  hardly  ever  extracted  by  cutting, 
but  by  dilating  the  Urethra,  fir  ft  by  introducing 
the  Catheter,  over  that  the  Conductor,  and  over 
the  Conductor  a  Pair  of  Forceps,  with  which  the 
Stone  is  apprehended  and  extracted  ;  but  then  the 
Sphincter  and  Urethra  are  by  this  means  fo  much 
dilated,  that  the  Patient  is  afterwards  troubled 
with  an  Incontinency  of  Urine  during  Life.  But 
the  late  celebrated  Raw  with  great  Skill  and  Dex- 
terity, cut  Women  for  the  Stone  in  the  Perinxum 
after  the  manner  of  Men,  and  by  that  means  pre- 
vented the  Hazard  of  this  Incontinency  of  Urine. 
The  fame  Diiorder  may  follow  from  a  venereal 
Ulcer,  as  alfo  from  a  Luxation  in  the  fpina  Dorfi, 
or  a  Contufion  of  the  fpinal  Medulla,  in  which 
Cafe  the  Inteftinal  Fasces,  as  well  as  the  Urine, 
.are  incapable  of  being  retained.  This  Accident  I 
faw  in  a  Goldfmith,  who  had  a  Diflocation  in  the 
Vertebras  of  the  Loins. 

D  4  §.  824. 


40  Tie  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.824. 


§.  874.  The  laft  Symptom  (4)  or  Diforder 
attending  this  Evacuation,  is  termed  a  Diabe- 
tes, which  is  a  frequent  and  copious  Difcharge 
of  a  milky  1  Urine,  or  which  is  much  Satu- 
rated 'with  Chyle  ;  theCaufe  hereof  is  gene- 
rally efteemed  too  great  a  Relaxation  of  the 
Fibres,  accompanied  with  too  thin  2  a  State  of 
the  Humours;  both  which  may  proceed  from 
the  Humours  being  too  much  diluted  with 
Water. 

1  In  fuch  a  manner,  that  the  renal  Veflels  are 
changed  into  lactiferous  ones,  like  thofe  of  the 
Breaits ;  in  which  cafe,  the  Arteries  termed  emul- 
gent  do  ftridtly  anfwer  their  Denomination,  inaf- 
much  as  they  milk  off,  or  deprive  the  Body  of 
its  nutritious  Chyle.  The  Quantity  of  Urine  in 
this  Diforder  is  large,  of  a  fweetTafte,  and  of  a 
milky  Colour  and  Confidence. 

*  .Every  VefTel  is  dilated  in  Proportion  to  the 
pre  (Ting  Force  ;  and  therefore  every  VerTel  trans- 
mitting too  great  a  Quantity  of  Humours,  will 
be  relaxed.  Hence  it  is  that  this  Diforder  be- 
came fo  frequent  after  the  high  Recommendations 
given  to  warm  watery  Liquors,  efpecially  Tea  and 
Coffee,  by  Cranen  and  Bentekoe\  for  thefe  diuretic 
Liquors  hurt  two  ways,  by  thinning  the  Humours 
too  much,  and  relaxing  the  Vefiels.  Thegreateft 
Hopes  of  a  Cure  will  confift  in  a  dry  Diet,  Ab~ 
ftinence  from  watery  Liquors,  with  Exercife  of 
Body,  a  free  Perfpiration,  <$c.  But  every  increafed 
Difcharge  by  the  urinary  Secretion  ought  not  to 
be  efteemed  a  Diabetes;  fuch  as  we  obferve  after 
drinking  a  great  deal  of  Tea,  Coffee,  or  Spaw- 
waters ;  For  a  true  Diabetes,  according  to  the  An- 

cientSj 


§.  826.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  41 

cients,  is,  when  the  Urine  appears  milky,  as  I 
faw  it  iira  young  Man,  who  applied  to  his  Studies 
Day  and  Night.  His  Method  was  to  drive  off 
Sleep,  by  perpetually  drinking  Tea  or  Coffee, 
which  reduced  him  at  length  into  a  Confumption 
and  incurable  Diabetes,  fo  that  he  appeared  like  a 
Skeleton,  and  at  lalt  expired  tormented  with  an 
intolerable  and  unextinguifhable  Thirft. 

§.  829.  The  vital  Adlions  injured,  refpecl 
chiefly  the  Symptoms  of  the  Puliation  of  the 
Heart,  and  the  Exercife  of  Refpiration,  or 
both  together. 

§.  826.  Hence  therefore  the  firft  Symptom 
or  Diforder  of  thofe  AcYions  is  reckoned  a 
Palpitation  1  of  the  Heart ;  namely,  a  violent 
and  fenfible  Contraction  of  it,  accompanied 
with  a  great  Refiftance  to  the  Blood  expelled 
from  the  Heart ;  and  the  Caufe  thereof  is,  for 
the  moft  part,  fome  inordinate  and  violent 
Motion  of  the  vital  Spirits z  impelled  into  the 
mufcular  Fibres  of  the  Heart,  as  in  violent 
Paffions  of  the  Mind,  fudden  Fear,  hyfteric 
Paffions,  violent  and  fudden  Exercife,  awaking 
out  of  one's  fleep  on  a  fudden ;  and  fometimes 
it  may  be  from  Irritation  of  the  Fibres  of  the 
Heart  itfelf,  proceeding  from  fome  acrid  Sti- 
mulus, as  in  a  Cacochymia,  when  the  Hu- 
mours are  put  in  Motion,  an  Inflammation  of 
the  Heart  itfelf,  or  its  Pericardium,  or  a 
Diforder  of  them  from  a  Calculus,  Worms  % 
Hairs,  or  an  Awurifm*  ;  as  alfo  from  Blood 
abounding  in  Quantity,  or  being  too  thick  \ 

or 


42   The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  826. 

or  congealed  intoa  Polypus  6 ;  or  laftly,  from 
the  Membranes  of  the  Arteries  being  either 
cartilaginous  or  bony,  or  elfe  obftructed  at 
their  extremities. 

1  Thus  we  call  a  violent  Contraction  of  the 
Heart,  in  Opposition  to  fome  great  Refiftance. 

2  When  the  Heart  palpitates,  it  dilates  by  De- 
grees, and  becomes  aneurifmatic.  For  when  it 
receives  more  Blood  than  it  is  able  to  difchrarge, 
its  Force  weakens  in  Proportion  as  the  Afflux, 
and  consequently  the  Capacity  is  increafed,  fince 
every  mufcular  Fibre  is  weakened  when  too  much 
elongated.  Thus  for  Example,  a  Perfon  who 
fuddenly  hears  or  fees  the  Explcfion  of  Gunpowder 
unexpectedly  in  the  Night,  is  thereby  frightened, 
and  flung  irt^o  a  Palpitation  of  the  Heart,  becaufe 
all  the  Blood  is  by  a  fudden  Conftriction  derived 
towards  the  Heart,  which  cannot  difpenfe  with, 
or  move  forward,  fo  great  a  Quantity.  Add  to 
this,  the  unequal  Distribution  or  Force  of  the  Spi- 
rits, from  whence  arife  hyfteric  and  chlorotic  Pal- 
pitations. 

3  Thus  Lower  found  Worms  in  the  Pericar- 
dium, where,  by  irritating  the  Heart,  it  was 
thrown  into  violent  Palpitations. 

4  Women  of  a  weak  Habit  fubject  to  fre- 
quent Faintings,  at  laft  expire  with  Palpitations  of 
the  Heart ;  for  when  a  Perfon  is  in  a  Swoon,  the 
Blood  continues  to  flow  into  the  Heart,  which  be- 
ing then  dilated  and  at  reft,  the  more  vifcid  Parts 
of  the  ftagnant  Blood  concrete  into  a  flefhy  Mafs 
or  Polypus,  which  flopping  up  the  PafTage  more 
or  lefs,  caufes  the  Heart  to  be  it  ill  more  dilated, 
and  renders  death  more  inevitable.  This  Difor- 
der  ought  to  be  well  known  both  to  Phyficians 

and 


§.826.  tte  Symptoms  of '  Difeafes.  43 

and  Surgeons,  left  from  being  unacquainted  with 
the  true  Nature  of  the  Diforder,  they  fhould  de- 
ftroy  the  Patient.  I  faw  an  Aneurifm  under  the 
left  Axilla,  as  large  as  a  Child's  Head,  in  a  Man 
who  was  a  Greek ;  and  whenever  this  Man  flept 
in  the  Night  on  his  right  Side,  the,B!ood  went  out 
of  the  aneurifmatic  Sacculus  of  the  fubclavian  Ar- 
tery, and  left  an  empty  Space  •,  but  as  foon  as 
ever  he  rofe  up  and  altered  the  Pofture  of  his 
Body,  there  was  a  free  Pafifage  made  for  the  arte- 
rial Blood,  which  deferring  the  Brain,  until  the 
Sacculus  was  full,  he  was  by  that  Means  fubject 
to  a  fhort  Fainting  whenever  he  rofe  up  from 
Sleep.  This  Tumor  being  opened  after  Death, 
appeared  full  of  fiefhy  Threads  or  Columnar. 

5  When  :he  Blood  is  too  thick,  fo  that  it  can- 
not eafily  pervade  the  pulmonary  Artery,  it  is 
there  accumulated,  and  refifts  the  Contraction  of 
the  right  Ventricle  of  the  Heart.  Hence  arife 
thofe  frequent  Palpitations  of  the  Heart,  to  which 
Men  of  Letters,  and  fuch  as  lead  fedentary  Lives, 
are  particularly  fubjecl; ;  when  they  compofe  thern- 
felves  to  Sleep,  then  they  can  hear  their  own 
Heart  palpitate  or  beat  with  fome  uneafinefs  ; 
namely,  becaufe  being  in  an  erect  Poftu remand  now 
laid  down,  the  Blood  flows  fuddenly  from  all  Parts 
of  the  Body  in  too  great  a  Quantity  to  the  Heart. 
But  thefe  Palpitations  feldom  laft  above  an  Hour. 

6  A  Palpitation  of  the  Heart  from  an  inordinate 
Motion  of  the  Spirits  is  not  dangerous  ;  but  -.vhcn 
the  Humours  are  repelled'of  a  fudden  to  the  1  *eart, 
the  Cafe  requires  to  be  managed  with  fome  Caution. 
This  kind  of  Palpitation  is  familiar  with  thofe  who 
are  troubled  with  a  Polypus*  for  they  are  feme- 
times  a  whole  Minute  together  without  any  Pulfe, 
and  afterwards  they  return  to  themfelves;  but  in 
the  mean  time  the  Blood  ftagnates  and  may  con- 
crete 


44  Tfie  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.827. 

crete  into  a  Thrombus.  I  faw  a  Patient  afflicted 
with  this  Diforder,  to  whom  I  ordered  a  low  and 
fuitable  Regimen  ;  but  another  Phyfician  recom- 
mending the  volatile  oily  Salt  of  Sylvius ,  occafion- 
ed  by  the  unhappy  Ufe.  of  it  the  Polypus  to  be 
protruded  into  the  afcending  Aorta,  whence  fud- 
den  Death.  Nor  ought  ever  thefe  volatile  Salts 
or  other  violent  Stimuli  to  be  allowed,  where  there 
is  reafon  to  fufpecl  a  Polypus. 

§.  827.  An  intermitting  T  of  the  Pulfation 
of  the  Heart  or  Arteries,  proceeds  either  from 
a  Deficiency  or  unequal  Flux  of  the  nervous 
Fluid  from  the  Cerebellum  into  the  Heart,  or 
elfe  from  fome  Defect  in  the  Artery  itfelf  re- 
ceiving and  tranfmitting  the  Blood  and  Hu- 
mours ;  or  laftly,  from  fomething  amifs  in  the 
Blood7,  and  Humours,  which  ought  to  flow 
thro'  the  Artery  :  hence  therefore  the  Caufe 
of  this  Symptom  may  be  various,  as  a  Convul- 
lion,  Polypus,  a  phlegmatic  Cacochymia,  an 
Inflammation1  of  the  Arteries,  Lungs*,  or 
Heart 5  itfelf,  a  Deficiency 6  of  Blood,  the  Ar- 
teries render'd  bony  7,  cartilaginous,  or  aneu- 
rifmatic  8,  or  elfe  cbftrudted  by  a  Calculus,  or 
other  Matter  ;  to  which  add  the  Heart  itfelf 
diforder'd  various  ways. 

*  An  intermitting  Pulfe  is  a  dangerous  Sign  in 
all  Difeafes,  inafmuch  as  it  denotes  a  Deficiency 
of  the  vital  Powers. 

a  Namely,  fuch  as  is  apt  to  form  Obftru&ions 
or  polypous  concretions. 

3  I  made  my  firft  Obfervation  of  an  Inflamma- 
tion of  the  Arteries  in  an  Ox,  which  in  driving  to 

the 


§.828.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  45 

the  Market  to  be  killed,  ran  away,  but  was  taken 
and  killed  after  violent  runnings  and  in  this  Ox 
I  obferved  the  Coats  of  the  Aorta  quite  black, 
and  fuffiifed  with  Blood  impacted  into  the  fmall 
VefTels  of  the  arterial  Coats.  But  Ruyfch  has  de- 
monftrated  that  the  Aorta  receives  the  Branches 
which  are  fpent  upon  its  Coats  from  the  coronary- 
Arteries  and  therefore  thefe  Arteries  of  the  Tu- 
nics being  diftended,  muft  confequently  diminilh 
the  internal  Capacity  of  the  Artery  itfelf,  &c. 

4  As  in  a  fatal  Peripneumony. 

5  Such  a  Difeafe  is  defcribed  by  Hippocrates* 
namely,  the  Heart  inflamed,  gangrened,  and  in- 
clined towards  the  right  Side. 

6  A  deficient  Pulfe  after  profufe  Hemorrhages 
is  ufually  a  fatal  Sign. 

7  When  an  Artery  is  either  bony  or  cartilaginous 
it  refifts  the  Blood  from  the  Heart,  which  confe- 
quently is  thrown  into  a  Palpitation,  for  want  of 
Force  fuflicient  to  urge  forward  the  Blood  fo  as  to 
overcome  the  Kefiftance. 

8  The  right  Ventricle  of  the  Heart  is  not  fo 
often  dilated  and  rendered  aneurifmatic  as  the  left, 
as  appears  from  the  Obfervations  of  Lancijfi^  who 
has  wrote  profeffedly  on  the  Subject,  and  mews, 
that  the  left  Ventricle  is  not  only  oftener  aneurif- 
matic, but  dilated  to  a  much  greater  Size  ;  more 
efpecially  when  the  Blood  ftagnates  in  the  Heart, 
as  it  does  in  fainting  Fits,  in  which  the  Blood  be- 
ing accumulated  diftends  the  Heart,  weakens  its 
contractile  Force  by  degrees,  and  renders  it  more 
eafily  dilatable  upon  the  Return  of  the  fame  Caufe. 

§.  828.  The  Pulfe  quicker  1  than  ufual  pro- 
ceeds always  from  a  quicker  Contraction  of 
the  Heart,  whofc  Motion  is  accelerated  from 

a  more 


46  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  829. 

a  more  frequent  or  copious  Influx  of  Spirits 
from  the  Cerebellum,  and  from  a  difficulty  in 
driving  forward  the  Blood  to  be  expell'd  from 
it  5  and  thefe  again  may  arife  from  Acrimony 
and  Obftruction. 

1  So  foon  as  the  Body  is  put  into  a  fwift  Motion, 
the  jugular  Veins  are  obltrucled  from  freely  dis- 
charging their  Blood  into  the  Subclavians  ;  

whence  the  Head  makes. 

§.829.  The  fourth  and  laft  Diforder  of  the 
Pulfe  is  its  Diminution  and  total  Ceflation, 
which  may  be  reduced  to  a  Lipothymia  or 
Fainting,  when  the  Pulfe  is  fo  deficient,  that 
the  vital  Powers  being  much  weakened,  are 
hardly  capable  of  fuftaining  the  Body  ;  Lipo- 
pfychia  %  when  the  preceding  Diforder  is  fofar 
increafed,  that  the  natural  Heat  or  Warmth  of 
the  Body  is  much  abated  Syncope  \  when  the 
Heart  is  fo  far  deficient,  that  the  Heat,  Mo- 
tion, and  Senfe  of  the  Parts,  axe  almoft  de- 
ftroyed,  and  cold  Sweats  enfue.  Laftly,  an 
Afphixia  %  in  which  all  the  preceding  Facul- 
ties are  abolifhed  as  to  Senfe,  and  the  Body 
appears  a  perfect  Image  of  Death,  The  Cau- 
fes  of  thefe  Symptoms  are  various,  and  appear 
in  different  degrees,  being  almoft  the  fame 
with  thofe  which  occafion  an  intermitting 
Pulfe  (§.  827.);  more  efpecially  an  Idea  of 
fomething/ngZtf/a/  5,  the  Perfon  being  with 
Child,  Paffions  of  the  Mind,  Convulfions, 
profufe  Evacuations  of  any  kind,  and  more  ef- 
pecially of  Blood6  in  Wounds,  Abortions,  De- 
livery, or  Cancers.  A  Lipo- 


§.  830.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  47 

•  A  Lipothymia  or  Fainting,  is  when  the 
Strength  fails  one  fo  as  not  to  be  able  to  fuftain 
the  Body. 

1  A  Lipofychia  is  more  violent  than  a  Lipothy- 
mia, becaufe  in  this  lad  the  Senfes  fail,  fo  that  the 
Patient  can  neither  fee  nor  hear,  &c. 

1  A  Syncope  is  (till  worfe,  namely,  when  the 
Pulfation  of  the  Heart  and  Arteries  are  hardly- 
perceptible. 

4  An  Afphyxia  is  when  the  Refpiration  and 
beating  of  the  Heart  are  not  to  be  perceived,  and 
differs  from  Death  only  in  degree  of  Duration. 
Thus  when  a  healthy  Man  perfect  in  all  his  Parts 
is  drowned,  like  a  good  Clock  in  which  every 
thing  is  perfect  except  rhe  Pendulum  which  is  noG 
in  Motion  but  if  to  a  Perfon  thus  drowned  Mo- 
tion is  reftored,  he  begins  to  live. 

s  Even  the  Poets  have  defcribed  their  Heroes 
as  obnoxious  to  Fears  and  Frights  :  and  in  this 
Condition  the  Heart  is  almoft  flopped  and  the 
whole  Body  trembles. 

6  Namely,  when  the  Heart  is  not  duly  fupplied 
'  with  venal  and  arterial  Blood  ;  whence  Paintings 
frequently  follow  Haemorrhages. 

§.  830.  The  principal  Symptoms  attending 
on  the  Refpiration  injured,  are  reckoned  to  be 
1.  An  Apnoea  \  in  which  the  Refpiration  is 
entirely  fuppreffed  ;  and  which  acknowledges 
for  its  Caufes  the  fame  which  we  enumerated 
before,  as  productive  of  a  diminished  or  fup- 
preffed Pul/ez  (§.  829.)  5  as  alfo  from  a  vitiated 
Air  (§.  746.  to  754.),  poifcnous  3  Vapours,  and 
fuch  as  are  cauftic,  acid,  or  auftere  -y  a  Palfy 
or  Spafm  of  the  Organs  fubfervient  to  Refpi- 
3  *  ration 


48  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.832. 

ration  (§.  602  to  625) ;  as  alfo  other  Difeafes 
which  are  capable  of  totally  deftroying  the 
Functions  of  thefe  Parts. 

1  An  Apnoea  is  a  State  of  the  Body  approach- 
ing nearer  to  Death,  and  abfolutely  terminates  in 
Death  if  it  continues  for  two  Minutes  together. 

2  So  foon  as  the  Action  of  the  Heart  ceafes,  the 
Refpiration  fails  of  Neceflity  ;  and  as  foon  as  the 
left  Ventricle  ceafes  to  be  fupplied  with  Blood  from 
the  Lungs,  all  the  Actions  of  the  Body  are  imme- 
diately Hopped. 

3  Even  the  ftrongeft  Animals  are  immediately 
fuffocated  by  the  Fumes  of  burning  Sulphur. 

§.831.  2dly,  A  Dyfp?iaa  is  when  the 
Refpiration  is  performed  with  Pain,  Diffi- 
culty 1  and  Fatigue ;  and  this  has  the  fame 
Caufes  with  the  preceding  (§.830)  butflighter; 
to  which  add  more  efpecially  an  ill  Conforma- 
tion of  the  Thorax. 

1  I  here  fpeak  of  Infpiration,  for  the  Expiration 
{till  continues  eafy,  as  that  is  performed  fponta- 
neoufly  by  the  Elafticity  of  the  Ribs  and  Carti- 
lages, and  requires  no  Force  or  Action  from  the 
Mufcles  of  Refpiration.  ThisDiforder  arifes  from 
too  ftrong  a  contractile  Force  in  the  mufculi  Me- 
fochondriaci  of  the  Lungs  contracting  the  Bronchia, 
fo  that  they  do  not  eafily  yield  to  be  diftended  by 
the  Weight  of  the  Atmofphere. 

§.  832.  3dly,  An  Afthma,  which  is  a  quick, 
difficult  and  noify  or  wheefmg  Refpiration, 
arifing  generally  from  ftronger  caufes  than 
a  Dyfpnaa>  but  more  efpecially  as  it  would 

feem 


§.832.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  49 

feem  from  a  fpafmodic  1  Conftriction  of  the 
mufcular  Fibres  in  the  Lungs. 

1  The  Lungs  are  always  in  a  State  of  Violence, 
that  is,  more  dilated  than  they  would  be  if  they 
were  fufbained  in  Equilibrium  in  the  common 
Air.  The  Lungs  therefore  always  refift  Dilatation 
by  their  own  proper  force.  If  now  this  con- 
tractile Force  of  the  Lungs  is  increafed  to  twice 
its  former  Strength  while  the  diftending  Power  of 
the  Atmofphere  remains  the  farue,  in  that  Cafe 
the  Lungs  will  not  be  dilated.  For  there  is  a  na- 
tural Proportion  betwixt  the  diftending  Force  of 
the  Atmofphere  and  the  contractile  Power  of  the 
Lungs,  which  Proportion  being  deftroyed,  the 
healthy  Action  of  the  Parts  cannot  fucceed.  In 
this  Diforder  then  the  Patients  erect  their  Body, 
raife  the  Shoulders,  and  draw  them  nearer  to 
each  other,  and  fixing  their  Elbows  in  fome  Win- 
dow, they  draw  in  their  Breath  with  great  Vio- 
lence and  Wheefing,  by  dilating  the  Thorax  as 
much  as  lies  in  their  Power.  When  the  Fit  is 
run  to  fuch  a  Height  that  the  Patient  feems  to  be 
near  to  Suffocation,  as  the  Blood  now  cannot  pafs 
thro'  the  Lungs,  the  jugular  Veins  appear  turgid 
and  ready  to  burft  •,  neither  the  left  Ventricle  of  the 
Heart  nor  the  Aorta,  and  confequently  the  En- 
cephalon  and  Lungs  themfelves  receive  no  Supplies 
of  Blood,  whereupon  the  Mufculi  mefochondriaci 
are  relaxed,  and  reftore  the  Lungs  to  their  free 
Refpiration.  The  Patient  is  more  efpecially  af- 
flicted with  this  Diforder  when  the  Wind  blows 
from  the  North,  as  the  Air  then  increafes  the 
Strength  and  Elafticity  of  all  the  Fibres,  and  even 
in  the  Springs  of  Clocks  but  the  Patient  finds 
himfelf  better  when  the  Weight  of  the  Atmofphere 
is  increafed.  This  is  the  dry  Afthma,  a  Diforder 
E  which 


UBiji&Ffflje  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  833, 


which  is  ve^y^equent,  and  often  deceives  one,  as 
^y  ric'*nS  on  Horfebaek,  with 


a-  in-BrD;cr. 


§.  833.  4thly,  An  Orthopnea  \  which  is 
a  fhort,  difficult,  and  wheeling  Refpiration, 
that  can  only  be  performed  when  the  Patient's 
Neck  and  Thorax  is  in  an  eredl  Pofture ;  the 
Caufes  of  this  Diforder  are  the  fame  z  with 
thofe  before-mentioned  (§.830,  831,  832.), 
but  they  ad:  and  return  varioufly  by  Fits  or 
fudden  Starts. 

1  An  Orthopncea  is  a  Refpiration  with  a  kind 
of  Stertor,  performed  with  the  Action  of  the  Neck 
and  Shoulders ;  Hippocrates  calls  it  an  exalted  or 
high  Refpiration. 

2  More  efpecially  an  Empyema,  a  Dropfy  of 
the  Pericardium,  and  other  Diforders  of  the  like 
kind,  from  whence  an  exalted  Refpiration  may 
follow ;  and  it  may  alfo  arife  from  the  Lungs  being 
over-charged  with  Moifture  or  with  Water. 

§.  834.  5thly,  A  fuffocating Catarrh,  which 
feems  to  be  a  fudden  and  fatal  Apnoea  \  or 
total  Suppreffion  of  the  Breath  :  it  has  the 
fame  Caufes  with  an  Orthopnoea  (§.833.); 
but  we  more  efpecially  obferve,  as  the  moft 
frequent  Caufe,  a  fudden  Diftillation  of  the  fluid 
Matter  into  the  Fauces  and  Lungs,  or  great 
Diforders  of  the  Nerves,  as  in  hyfteric  Cafes  j 
or  laftly,  a  large  Polypus  in  the  Heart  fud- 
denly  protruded  into  the  Lungs. 


When 


§.  8  3  5  •  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.    5 1 

1  When  a  Perfon  is  fuffocated  on  a  fudden  with- 
out any  preceding  Signs  of  any  great  Diforder,  it 
is  termed  an  Apncea ;  but  as  foon  as  the  Body 
ftretches  out  and  grows  ftiff,  a  bloody,  purulent, 
or  phlegmatic  Matter  is  difcharged  in  great  Quan- 
tity from  the  Mouth  and  Note.  This  Diforder 
happens  when  a  Vomica  is  fuddenly  broke  in  the 
Lungs  by  a  violent  Infpiration,  the  Matter  and 
Blood  being  fuddenly  poured  into  the  Air-vefTels 
and  Bronchia.  If  fo  much  as  a  fingle  Ounce  of 
Matter  is  difcharged  into  the  Bronchia  from  the 
burfting  of  its  Cift,  it  is  fufricient  to  produce  fud- 
den Death,  and  does  not  give  the  Patient  an  Op- 
portunity to  fpeak  one  Word,  inafmuch  as  it  per- 
fectly intercepts  the  Refpiration  ;  but  after  Death 
the  Parts  contracting  by  Cold,  protrude  the  Mat- 
ter, and  caufe  it  to  afcend  through  the  Wind-pipe. 
Sometimes  this  fame  Diforder  arifes  from  the  Lungs 
being  affected  externally  in  an  Empyema  or  a 
Dropfy  of  the  Thorax,  when  one  Chamber  of  that 
Cavity  being  full  of  Water  and  Matter,  and  the 
Mediaftinum  eat  almoft  thro',  the  Liquor  fuddenly 
makes  itfelf  a  way  into  the  other  Chamber  of  the 
Thorax  ;  whence  an  unavoidable  Suffocation  fol- 
lows, as  the  whole  Lungs  are  now  opprefled  ; 
whereas  before  only  one  half  of  them  being  ob- 
Itructed,  occafions  only  an  Orthopncea. 

§.  835.  But  all  thefe  five  preceding  Sym- 
ptoms or  Diforders  of  the  Refpiration  (§.  830. 
to  835.)  are  commonly  produced  by  fome 
very  remarkable  Caufes,  which  manifeftthem- 
felves  either  by  opening  the  dead  Body,  or  by 
a  Difcharge  of  the  offending  Matter;  fuch  are 
chiefly  a  filling  of  the  thorax  1  with  extrava- 
fated  Lymph,  Matter,  or  Blood,  an  Inflam- 
E  2  mation 


*    5  2   ^e  Symptom  of  Difeafes.  §.835. 

rnation  of  the  Larynx,  Wind-pipe,  Bronchia, 
Lungs,  Pleura,  Mediaftinum,  Diaphragm, 
Pericardium,  and  Mufcles  of  the  Thorax  and 
Abdomen  fuhfervient  to  Refpiration  ;  as  alfo 
offending  matter  of  various  kinds,  whether 
f  lypofe\  chalky  \  gritty,  phlegmatic,  jiony  \ 
or  purulent;  and  like  wife  a  Tumor  formed 
about  or  within  the  Larynx  5,  or  in  the  Lungs 
themfelves,  or  in  the  Thorax,  whether  the 
Tumor  be  inflammatory,  fuppurating,  fcir- 
rhous  or  cancerous :  finally,  we  may  add  to 
thefe  a  very  broad  Adhefon  6  of  the  Lungs 
to  the  Pleura. 

1  Even  fometimes  Matter  has  been  found  in  the 
Cavity  of  the  Pericardium  itfelf ;  and  at  other 
times  Matter  has  been  formed  after  an  Inflamma- 
tion betwixt  the  Lamellae  of  the  Mediaftinum, 
which  might  have  been  removed  by  trepanning  the 
Sternum  ;  which  Operation  was  performed  upon  a 
certain  Divine  at  Amfierdam^  who  was  by  this 
means  freed  from  a  great  Quantity  of  Matter;  and 
the  Heart  was  thus  left  fo  naked,  that  by  applying 
a  Looking-glafs  oppofite  to  the  Wound,  he  could 
fee  his  own  Heart  beating,  which  he  feemed  to 
take  fome  Pleafure  in,  being  a  Man  of  an  uncom- 
mon Tafte  ;  for  it  was  the  noted  Becker  who  has 
wrote  againft  the  Exiftence  of  Devils. 

2  Frequently  very  large  Polypus's  have  been 
difcharged,  exceeding  the  Belief  of  every  one. 

3  This  matter  grows  hard  when  expofed  to  the 
open  Air. 

4  The  celebrated  Botanift  Vaillant  fpit  up  400 
Stones  from'  his  Lungs  before  Death,  though  they 
were  all  of  them  indeed  fmall  and  round.  He  was 
airlifted  with  an  Afthma  from  a  calculous  Matter 

collected 


§.  836.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeofes.  53 

collected  in  the  Veficles  of  the  Lungs.  I  have 
feen  Afthma's  of  the  worft  kind,  in  which  the 
Patient  has  been  tortured  with  inceflant  coughing 
without  intermiftion,  till  after  fome  Weeks  they 
have  brought  up  Calculi  from  the  Wind-pipe,  and 
then  the  Kefpiration  has  been  free  for  fome  time, 
till  more  Calculi  were  again  formed.  I  have  feen 
other  Patients  who  have  kept  by  them  large  Cups 
full  of  thefe  Stones,  which  had  been  brought  up 
from  the  Lungs.  Such  People  as  thefe  generally 
die  with  a  fpkeing  of  Blood  \  for  the  tender  Fabric 
of  the  Lungs  is  cieftroyed  by  the  violent  coughing 
ufed  to  bring  up  thefe  Stones. 

5  I  faw  a  learned  Man  who  was  fufTocated  by  a 
Tumor  of  the  Parotid,  which  was  enlarged  to 
the  Size  of  one's  Head.  I  likewife  remember  a 
celebrated  Statuary,  who  had  all  the  Glands  of  his 
Fauces  fcirrhous  from  fwallowing  the  Dutl  of  the 
Stone  ;  and  this  Man  died  fuddenly. 

6  When  the  Lungs  thus  adhere  to  the  Pleura, 
they  cannot  defcend  or  follow  the  Diaphragm 
when  the  Thorax  is  dilated,  whence  the  free  En- 
trance of  the  Air  is  impeded,  and  an  incurable 
Dyfpnoea  is  brought  on.  Nor  is  it  at  all  wonder- 
ful that  thefe  Diforders  mould  fo  feldom  be  cured, 
becaufe  very  different  and  numerous  Diforders  are 
in  this  Cafe  comprehended  under  one  Denomina- 
tion. 

§.  0*36.  The  Symptoms  of  the  Sight  injured 
are  very  numerous  and  are  beft  diftinguifhed 
from  enumerating  their  Caufes,  according  to 
the  different  Seats  wherein  they  refide  ;  for 
1 .  The  containing  Parts  may  injure  the  Globe 
of  the  Eye  by  prejjing  z,  and  thrufting  it  for- 
ward or  outward,  or  by  corroding  it  with  Tu- 

E  3  mors, 


54  75k  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.836. 

mors,  either  inflammatory  \  fuppurative,  fcir- 
rhous,  cancerous,  an  Exoftofis  or  Caries 4  of 
the  Bones  conftituting  the  Orbit ;  for  from 
hence  the  Figure,  Circulation  of  the  Hu- 
mors 5,  v!fual  Axis,  and  Collection  of  the 
Rays  in  their  due  Place  in  the  Eye,  may  all 
of  them  be  depraved  \ 

1  So  numerous  that  formerly  the  Parifian  Oculift 
Guiliemeau  has  reckoned  up  300  Diforders  of  the 
Eyes.  But  this  Divifion  is  rather  Oftentatious, 
and  tends  to  Confufion  by  its  ufelefs  Subtlety. 
In  my  Opinion,  thofe  Diforders  only  ought  to  be 
defcribed  which  arife  from  different  Caufes,  and 
which  require  a  different  Treatment  and  Method  of 
Cure  •,  and  even  thefe  are  numerous  enough  :  for 
the  Eye  performs  the  Office  of  Vifion  by  a  Con- 
currence of  an  almoft  infinite  Number  of  Inftru- 
ments.  But  it  is  a  general  Axiom,  that  the  more 
Organs  there  are  employed  in  any  Action,  that 
A&ion  mud  be  expofed  more  frequently  and  to  a 
greater  Number  of  Diforders.  If  there  are  an 
hundred  Parts  in  an  Organ,  it  is  eafy  to  conceive, 
that  fuch  an  Organ  may  be  liable  to  three  times  as 
many  Diforders. 

4  When  the  Glandula  innominata  is  tumefied, 
the  Sides  of  the  bony  Orbit  cannot  give  way,  no 
more  can  the  Bulb  or  the  Eye  :  and  therefore  the 
Eye  can  only  occupy  the  Space  which  is  allowed  it 
by  the  increafed  Gland ;  thus  the  Globe  of  the 
Eye  will  be  compreffed,  altered  in  its  Figure,  and 
deceived  in  its  Office  of  Vifion ;  which  will  be 
thus  obfcured  from  an  external  compreffing  Caufe, 
without  any  thing  amifs  in  the  Eye  itfelf.  In  this 
manner  I  obferved  the  Eye  project  out  of  the 
Orbit  in  a  Girl,  but  fo  that  the  Eye- lids  could  not 


§.  836.  Tlie  Symptoms  of  Difeajls.  55 

be  drawn  clofe  together  to  cover  it.  I  have  likewife 
fometimes  obferved  this  Gland  fo  much  diftended, 
as  tothrufttheEyeoutof  itsOrbitupontheCheek. 

3  The  wholeOrbit  is  perfectly  filled  by  the  Eye, 
MufcJes,  and  Fat-,  and  therefore  the  Eye  will  be 
comprefTcd  as  foon  as  any  of  the  parts  contained 
in  the  Orbit  are  enlarged. 

4  When  the  Nofe  is  internally  corrupted  from 
the  Venereal  Difeafe,  and  the  mucous  Membrane 
eroded,  the  Canalis  nafalis  then  begins  to  be  unco- 
ver'd,  which  Canal  forms  part  of  the  bony  Side  of 
the  lachrymal  Sack ;  and  then  alfo  the  Os  planum 
and  Unguis  are  uncovered  on  their  irfide  next  the 
Nofe,  and  become  carious ;  whence  the  Eye  itfelf 
becomes  inflamed  in  its  Membranes,  and  at  length 
the  Patient  lofes  the  Sight  of  both  his  Eyes,  or  at 
leaft  of  the  Eye  on  the  corrupted  Side.  So  foon 
therefore  as  the  Eye  appears  inflamed  and  watery, 
tho'  in  but  afmall  degree  in  thofe  who  have  a  Caries 
or  Gzaena  in  the  Nofe  from  the  Venereal  Difeafe, 
the  Sight  is  in  the  utmoft Danger,  inafmuch  asthe 
Diforder  terminates  in  an  Erofion  of  the  Eye  itfelf. 

5  The  Circulation  of  the  Plumours  in  the  Eye 
may  be  depraved  even  by  flight  Caufes,  inafmuch 
as  it  is  carried  on  through  the  mod  minute  Vef- 
fels  of  the  Membranes,  aqueous  Humour,  ciliary 
Duels,  crystalline  Lens,  vitreous  Humour,  and 
Retina. 

6  This  is  a  bad  Sign,  and  feldom  yields  to  Me- 
dicine-, nor  ought  even  a  flight  Tumour  to  be  ne- 
glected or  defpiled,  as  of  no  confequence,  tho'  ari- 
fing  in  the  Oribit  from  an  external  Caufe.  Upon 
this  Subject  you  may  confult  hildanus  in  the  firfb 
Century  of  hisObfervations  -,  fee  alfo  Heifter  in  his 
Treatife  concerning  the  Extirpation  of  a  Cancer  in 
the  Eye. 


§.  837.  Befides 


56  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.837 


§.  £37.  Befides  this,  the  Eye-lids  being  in- 
flamed, fuppurated,  inflated1,  glued  together 
or  concreted1 ',  or  befet  with  Pimples,  won- 
derfully difturb  the  Sight,  and  that  from  va- 
rious Caufes,  but  more  frequently,  and  efpe- 
cially  by  the  glandulce  Sebacea  1  difordered  ; 
for  then  all  the  Parts  of  the  Eye  are  filled  with 
Sordes  4,  and  begin  to  fuffer  the  like  5  Difor- 
ders,  the  Sight  grows  dull,  and  the  Humours 
of  the  Eye  are  depraved. 

1  The  cellular  Membrane  is  in  no  part  more  li- 
able to  Diftenfion  and  Difeafes  than  in  the  Eye-lids, 
for  thefe  are  often  fo  much  inflated  as  even  to  hide 
the  Eye  itfelf;  and  in  the  Small-pox  they  are  even 
not  opened  for  many  Days,  nor  arc  there  nume- 
rous Inftances  wanting  of  perfect  Blindnefs  from 
this  Caufe. 

4  I  faw  the  Margins  of  the  Eye-lids  in  a  Child 
fo  much  ulcerated,  that  they  grew  together  every 
Night,  info  much  that  it  became  necefTary  to  keep 
them  afunder  by  the  Interpofition  of  a  plate  of 
Lead,  after  they  had  been  Separated  by  the  Knife. 
This  is  the  Symblepharofis. 

3  When  the  fmall  Glands  deftined  to  lubricate 
the  Margins  of  the  Eye-lids  are  obftructed  and 
filled  with  a  yellow  Oil,  thence  arife  Tubercles, 
termed  by  the  Antients  Chalazte,  and  by  the  Latins 
Grandinofte,  which  obftruct  the  Sight  and  ought 
to  be  extirpated. 

4  The  Eyes  would  be  continually  troubled  and 
ob feu  red,  as  if  there  were  fmall  Bodies  continually 
flying  before  them,  if  they  were  not  to  be  deterged 
and  cieanfed  by  the  Eye-lids,  and  therefore  when 
the  Eye-lids  are  inflamed,  or  otherwife  rendered 

immoveable, 


§.838.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  57 

immoveable,  the  Brightnefs  and  Clearnefs  of  the 
Eye  muft  neceffarily  be  loft. 

5  Whenever  the  Eyelids  are  inflamed,  the 
fame  Diforder  ufually  invades  the  Eyes  at  the 
fame  time. 

§.  838.  When  the  Tears  offend  either  by 
their  too  great  Quantity  \  Acrimony  or  Thick- 
nefs 1  flowing  along  the  Margins  of  each  Eye- 
lid, they  run  down  or  diftil  in  Drops  out  of 
the  Eyes  along  the  Cheeks,  and  thus  occafion 
a  watery  Eye,  obfcuring  the  Sight,  caufing 
inflammatory  Erofions  \  Difcolouration,  la- 
chrymal Fifhila4,  &c.    And  thefe  Diforders 
happen  either  from  a  difeafed  Relaxation  5  of 
the  lachrymal  Gland,  or  from  too  great  Acri- 
mony and  Motion  of  the  lachrymal  Humour, 
and  perhaps  alfo  from  an  ill  Configuration  of 
the  cartilaginous  Tarfi  6  or  Margins  of  the 
Eye-lids,  or  from  an  Indifpofitiori  of  the  Ca- 
runcle 7  in  the  Corner  of  the  Eye,  as  alfo 
from  various  Diforders  of  the  Puncta  or  fmall 
Orifices  8  in.  the  Eye-lids  which  abforb  the 
Tears,  with  the  fmall  Dutfs  9  leading  from 
thence  into  the  lachrymal  Sack ;  or  the  Dif- 
order may  again  proceed  from  fome  Indif- 
pofition  of  the  lachrymal  Sack  itfelf,  of  its 
Canalis  Nafalis,  or  the  Membranes  which 
internally  line  the  Nofel°,  being'  fo  affected 
as  to  obftruct  the  PafTage  thro'  that  Canal 
into  the  Cavity  of  the  Nofe  ;  but  the  Caufes 
capable  of  producing  the  forementioned  Dif- 
orders are  almoft  innumerable. 


In 


5  8  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.838. 

In  this  Section  is  contained  the  Refult  of  an 
infinite  Number  of  Obfervations.  Petite  has  wrote 
an  entire  Treatife  upon  thefe  Diforders,  and  yet 
has  not  been  able  to  reach  to  the  Root  of  them. 
The  Glandula  Innominata  of  the  Eye  feparates  the 
Tears  from  the  arterial  Blood,  and  difchargesthem 
all  over  the  Eye  by  its  proper  hygrophthalmic 
Duels  of  Meibomiusy  betwixt  the  Eye  itfelf  and 
the  upper  Lid,  by  which  means.the  Tunics  of  the 
Eye  are  waflied  clean  and  kept  fplendid.  After 
performing  this  Office,  the  Tears  are  determined 
along  the  Margin  of  the  lower  Eye-lid  to  the  la- 
chrymal Points  in  the  greater  Canthus  next  the 
Nofe,  where  they  are  always  abforbed  in  a  natural 
State  of  the  Parts,  unlefs  by  forrowful  Paflion  of 
the  Mind  the  Tears  are  feparated  in  an  increafed 
Quantity. 

1  When  the  Tears  flow  in  great  Quantities, 
and  are  accumulated  along  the  Margins  of  the 
Eye-lids,  the  Eye  is  in  a  manner  covered  with 
Water,  and  does  not  accurately  difcern  objects, 
unlefs  it  is  firft  wiped  dry.  This  diforder  is  ufually 
attended  with  an  Infpiflation  of  the  Tears  into  the 
Confiftence  of  Gum,  which  proves  troublefome  to 
Men  of  Letters. 

*  This  happens  from  a  depraved  Circulation, 
when  it  is  almoft  fupprefled  in  People  who  are 
dying ;  for  then  Particles  of  Dull  which  float  in 
the  Air  are  catched  in  this  Liquor,  and  obfeure 
the  Sight. 

3  Thefe  Erofions  more  efpecially  happen  when 
the  Tears  are  very  acrimonious,  a  Defect  to  which 
the  Mucus  of  the  Nofe  is  often  liable  in  a  thin  or 
ierous  Coryza. 

4  We  fay  a  lachrymal  Fiftula  is  pre  fen  t  when- 
ever the  Tears  flow  down  a  Person's  Cheeks  from 
any  Caufc  obflructing  their  natural  PafTage  into 

the 


§ .  838.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  5  9 

the  Nofe.  I  know  not  of  any  Title  to  which 
thefe  Diforders  can  be  referred  except  this,  which 
is  therefore  ufed  with  Defign,  even  though  I  am 
obliged  to  comprehend  in  it  very  different  Dif- 
•  orders. 

5  Namely,  when  the  lachrymal  Glands  are  re- 
laxed like  the  falival  Glands  in  melancholy  People; 
for  as  in  thefe  laft  there  is  a  perpetual  Flux  of  Sa- 
liva, fo  in  a  like  State  of  the  lachrymal  Glands 
there  is  a  perpetual  and  too  copious  a  Flux  of  the 
Tears. 

6  No  Geometrician  could  ever  adapt  together 
two  moveable  Lines  more  exactly,  than  what  we 
obferve  in  the  Margins  of  the  Eye-lids ;  but  when 
there  is  any  Defect  in  thefe,  as  for  Example,  if 
there  is  a  FifTure  or  Inequality  in  them,  then  the 
Tears  will  run  down  from  thence.  When  Surgeons 
fee  this  Diforder,  they  often  fearch  for  the  Caufe 
in  the  greater  Canthus  of  the  Eye,  when  it  alto- 
gether proceeds  from  fome  Inequality  in  the  Tarfus 
or  Margin  of  the  Lid.  Such  a  FifTure  I  obferved 
in  the  Eye-lid  of  a  Perfon  from  an  Erofion, 
which  prevented  the  Tears  from  flowing  to  tiie 
greater  Canthus,  inftead  of  which  they  ran  down 
the  Cheek  thro'  the  FifTure,  which  was  corroded 
in  the  Margin  of  the  Eye  lid.  I  obferved  this 
Diforder  likewife  in  a  Soldier,  occafioned  by  a 
Wound  received  from  a  Bullet, 

7  This  Caruncle  is  red  and  befet  with  fmall 
Hairs,  being  placed  like  a  Cufhion  in  the  inrtrnal 
Angle  of  the  Eye,  to  make  up  the  Deficiency 
which  is  there  obfervable  in  the  Tarfi  or  Margins 
of  the  Eye-lids,  which  terminate  before  they  reach 
the  internal  Angle ;  and  this  fpace  is  therefore 
filled  by  the  Caruncle,  that  the  Eye  might  not  be 
perfectly  doled  there,  in  order  that  the  Tears 
might  be  derived  thither,  when  all  other  Parts  of 

the 


60  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.838. 

the  Eye -lids  are  clofed.  As  there  is  only  a  fpace 
thus  formed  in  this  Part  of  the  Eye,  therefore  the 
Hairs,  Duft,  and  other  Nufances  will  be  retained 
about  the  Caruncle,  together  with  the  more  grofs 
and  vifcid  Parts  of  the  Tears,  while  the  more  fluid 
Parts  are  drawn  off  by  the  lachrymal  Points.  If 
now  the  Caruncle  is  corroded,  a  Cavity  will  be 
formed,  through  which  the  Tears  will  flow  and  run 
down  the  Cheeks,  incapable  of  being  fuppreffed, 
fo  as  to  afford  the  Appearance  of  a  lachrymal  Fi- 
ftula, though  there  is  really  neither  Ulcer  nor 
Fiftula. 

8  At  the  Extremities  of  the  Tarfi  in  each  Eye- 
lid next  the  Nofe,  are  placed  two  fmall  Openings 
like  Points,  furnifhed  each  with  a  refpeclive  Valve, 
which  abforb  the  Tears,  and  convey  them  into 
the  Nofe  after  the  manner  of  a  Syphon.  But  when 
the  Tears  are  accumulated  behind  thefe  Points, 
and  cannot  be  abforbed  by  the  lachrymal  Duels, 
it  forms  a  fpurious  Fiftula  Lachrymalis  ;  it  being 
termed  a  Fiftula,  tho'  it  is  only  an  apparent  Sym- 
ptom thereof. 

9  When  the  Duels  leading  from  the  lachrymal 
Points  to  the  Sack  are  inflamed,  ulcerated  orcom- 
prefTed,  the  Tears  are  then  obliged  to  run  down  the 
Cheeks,  there  being  no  PafTage  for  them  into  the 
lachrymal  Sack. 

10  When  the  Membranes  of  the  Nofe  are  tume- 
fied in  a  Cold,  fo  as  to  comprefs  the  nafal  Canals, 
then  the  Tears  are  likewife  obliged  to  run  down  the 
Cheeks;  and  the  fame  Difordcr  may  likewife  pro- 
ceed from  a  Polypus,  or  from  the  venereal  Difeafe 
feated  in  thefe  Parts— From  what  has  been  faid,  it 
is  evident  how  numerous  and  various  are  the  Dif- 
eafes of  thefe  Parts,  and  how  complex  their  Caufes 
are  and  alfo  that  they  require  fo  very  different 
Methods  of  Treatment  in  order  for  a  Cure,  that 

it 


§ .  839-  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.   6 1 

it  is  next  to  impoflible  for  them  to  be  healed  by 
any  Phyfician  who  is  not  acquainted  with  their 
Caufes  ;  and  it  is  likewife  evident,  how  ill  qualified 
thofe  are,  who  fet  about  curing  Difeafes  of  the 
Eyes,  when  they  are  not  well  flailed  in  the  Ana- 
tomy of  thefe  Parts.  There  would  be  no  reafon 
to  find  fault  if  they  ufed  nothing  but  Rofe-water, 
or  Water  in  which  red-hot  Gold  and  Flint-ftones 
have  been  extinguifhed  ;  for  thefe  are  Medicines 
which  hurt  nothing  but  the  Purfe;  but  I  only  com- 
plain againft  their  undertaking  Chirurgical  Ope- 
rations, in  the  Adminiftration  of  which  they  are 
altogether  ignorant.  I  faw  a  Surgeon  who  in- 
tended to  perforate  the  Os  Nafi,  to  make  a  way 
for  the  Tears,  when  the  lachrymal  Duels  were 
only  comprefled  by  afmall  Tumor  in  their  Courfe 
from  the  Pundta  to  the  Sack  a  Diforder  which 
might  have  been  eafily  removed  by  an  emollient 
Cataplafm  or  Fomentation.  But  cauftic  and  cor- 
roding Medicines  more  efpecially  require  great 
Caution,  and  ought  rarely  to  be  ufed.  I  intend 
this  againft  the  French  Surgeons  at  Paris,  who  are 
mod  forward  of  any  to  oppofe  every  thing  by  the 
Knife  and  Cautery. 

§.  839.  But  Villon  may  be  alfo  depraved, 
obfeured  or  deftroyed,  when  the  Tunica  Cor- 
nea or  Adnata  are  injured  with  an  Opacity, 
Whitenefs,  growing  thick,  or  oedematous  \  or 
invaded  with  a  Blifter  z,  Inflammation,  Un- 
guis, Sarcoma  \  Pearl*,  Cicatrix 5,  Panni- 
culus,  Albugo  or  Cartilage ;  all  which  may 
again  proceed  from  numerous  and  various 
Caufes. 


Otherwife 


6  2  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.839. 

1  Otherwife  termed  a  Dropfy  of  the  Cornea. 
About  twenty  Years  ago  when  I  read  upon  Dif- 
eafes  of  the  Eyes,  I  obferved  the  Cornea  in  a  Pa- 
tient in  which  there  were  many  fmall  Veficles  full 
of  a  pellucid  Water ;  I  then  ftretched  the  Cor- 
nea, and  with  the  Point  of  a  very  fharp  Needle 
punctured  the  Veficles,  which  diftilled  a  pellucid 
Liquor,  but  ftill  there  remained  other  interior  Strata 
entire ;  after  the  firft  I  opened  another  of  the  Ve- 
ficles, and  lb  proceeded  with  the  reft :  this  was  an 
Oedema  in  which  Water  had  been  accumulated. 

2  I  faw  a  ftudious  Perfon  who  confulted  me,  and 
was  full  of  Complaints  that  he  had  loft  his  Sight, 
and  upon  infpecting  the  Eye  I  found  a  lymphatic 
VefTel  diftended  upon  the  Tunica  Adnata,  fo  that 
it  feemed  to  the  Patient  like  a  Beam,  and  deftroyed 
his  Sight ;  but  by  opening  this  VefTel  by  Puncture, 
and  then  warning  the  Eye  with  Spirit  of  Wine 
mixed  with  ten  times  as  much  Water,  he  was  per- 
fectly cured. 

3  When  a  kind  of  rough  Wart  or  Excrefcence 
rifes  up  above  the  Surface  of  the  Tunica  Adnata, 
then  the  Eye-lids  are  obliged  to  wink  Day  and 
Night,  while  their  internal  Surface  is  irritated  and 
inflamed.  I  have  obferved  this  Diforder  from 
Sand  falling  into  the  Eye,  which  lying  between 
the  Globe  and  the  internal  Surface  of  the  Eye-lid, 
has  excited  fuch  Pain  as  to  throw  the  Patient  al- 
moft  into  Convulfions ;  fo  eafily  may  the  greateft 
Maladies  arife  from  the  flighteft  Diforders. 

4  A  Peal  is  a  femipellucid  and  white  Spot  in  the 
Cornea ;  but  whether  or  no  it  is  a  Callofity  of  a 
lymphatic  VefTel  burft  may  be  queftioned. 

5  Such  Scars  frequently  happen  after  the  Small- 
pox, when  the  Eyes  have  been  clofed  up  by  a 
Concretion  of  the  Eye-lids  for  feveral  Weeks,  fo 
as  to  render  the  Patient  perfectly  blind. 

3  §•  §4°» 


§.  840,  735*  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  63 


§.  840.  When  again  the  aqueous  Humour 
is  deficient,  the  Eye  fhrinks  or  falls  away,  and 
the  Cornea  becomes  too  flat  or  elfe  wrinkled 1 ; 
if  the  aqueous  Humour  abounds  1  too  much, 
it  produces  the  Oculus  Elephantinus ;  if  it 
flag?iates  5  without  being  renewed,  it  vitiates 
the  whole  Fabric  of  the  Eye  3  if  it  becomes 
tinged  into  any  Colour,  or  infpifiated  into  a 
mucous  or  phlegmatic  Nature,  it  caufes  Suf- 
fuflons 4,  Cataradts,  or  an  improper  Colour  5  of 
the  Eyes,  and  the  Seat  of  thefe  laft  Disorders 
is  for  the  moft  part  betwixt  the  interior  Sur- 
face of  the  Uvea  and  the  cryftalline  Lens, 
and  the  Caufe  is  for  the  moft  part  an  Inflam- 
mation 6,  Cacochymia,  or  an  imprudent  Ap- 
plication of  things  too  powerfully  coagula- 
ting 7. 

1  When  the  Cornea  is  wrinkled  the  Eye  is  faid 
to  be  broke,  as  in  dying  People ;  and  flat,  when 
the  Cornea  being  collapfed  lofes  its  Sphericity  from 
aDeficiency  of  theHumour  which  ought  to  diftend 
and  fill  it  out. 

2  When  this  Humour  abounds,  the  Eye  muft 
neceflfarily  project  more  forward  in  that  Part  where 
the  Sclerotica  is  abfent,  that  is,  where  thefoft  Cor- 
nea is  placed,  and  confequently  where  the  Bulb 
of  the  Eye  gives  the  leaft  Refinance. 

3  In  the  fame  manner  as  in  the  Jaundice,  in 
which  all  Objects  appear  yellow,  becaufe  fome  of 
the  Bile  then  mixes  itfelf  with  the  aqueous  Humour. 
I  have  alfo  fometimes  obferved  that  all  Objects 
have  appeared  red  to  a  Perfon,  who  by  a  violent 

Blow 


64  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  840. 

Blow  upon  the  Eye  has  had  fome  Blood  extrava- 
fated  into  the  aqueous  Humour. 

4  For  unlefs  the  Humours  circulate  and  keep 
moving,  they  corrupt. 

5  The  modern  Phyficians  and  Surgeons  would 
not  have  differed  fo  much  among  themfelves  about 
this  Diforder,  if  they  had  thoroughly  furveyed  and 
nnderftood  its  Nature.  I  have  feen  the  aqueous 
Humour  truly  opake,  and  the  fame  happens  to 
Peoplein  extreme  old  Age.  In  Animals  lately  born, 
but  more  efpecially  in  Puppies  and  Kittens,  the 
aqueous  Humour  is  by  a  Providence  of  Nature 
turbid  or  opake,  left  they  mould  at  that  time 
fee  Objects,  and  their  tender  Eyes,  as  yet  unaccu- 
ftomed  to  Light,  might  not  be  fo  ftrongly  irritated 
thereby  as  to  throw  the  animal  into  Convulfions ; 
but  that  the  Eye  may  be  gradually  accuftomed  to 
its  Action,  as  the  aqueous  Humour  becomes  by 
degrees  more  pellucid.  It  is  therefore  evident, 
that  this  Diforder  may  be  fo  far  increafed  in  the 
aqueous  Humour,  as  to  caufe  it  to  concrete  or 
thicken  into  a  kind  of  Mucus;  but  this  Species  of 
the  Cataract  is  not  fo  frequently  to  be  met  with. 
For  in  this  Diforder  the  Iris  cannot  be  feen,  and 
the  Colour  of  the  Eye  is  obfeured.  This  Diforder 
may  be  termed  an  Hypochyma,  or  it  may  be 
ranked  among  the  Species  of  Cataracts,  tho'  the 
Jaft  Term  comprehends  Diforders  of  a  very  dif- 
ferent Nature.  But  then  it  muft  be  obferved,  that 
this  Species  of  the  Diforder  cannot  be  cured  by 
couching  with  a  Needle,  fince  it  is  placed  before 
the  Iris,  immediately  behind  the  Cornea  but  the 
Cornea  ought  not  to  be  perforated  :  for  in  the  true 
Species  of  the  Cataract,  the  Needle  is  introduced 
behind  the  Iris,  the  Diforder  being  in  this  Cafe 
leated  behind  the  Pupil,  which  therefore  does  not 
appear  altered  in  Colour.    But  we  may  poJTibly 


§.  841.  Tlx  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  65 

add  a  third  Oafs  of  Cataracts,  namely  when  the 
aqueous  Humour  behind  the  Uvea  and  before  the 
cryftalline  Lens,  concretes  into  a  Membrane; 
and  in  this  Cafe  alfo,  the  Iris  may  appear  diftincl:. 

6  Thus  the  Eye  being  a  long  while  clofed  with 
the  Small-pox,  is  at  length  rendered  opake  by  the 
Inflammation,  which  ddrroys  the  Sight,  but  not 
without  leaving  Hopes  of  its  Recovery. 

7  It  is  well  known  by  Experience,  that  Spirit  of 
Wine,  and  confequently  Hungary  Water,  do  in  a 
Moment's  time  caufe  the  aqueous  Humour  of  the 
Eye  to  harden  like  the  White  of  a  boiled  Egg ; 
and  this  Effect  is  more  powerfully  brought  about 
by  Alum,  Vitriol,  Sugar  of  Lead,  and  Aqua 
Chelidonii  with  Spirit  of  Sal  Ammoniacum.  From 
hence  it  is  evident,  that  the  Patient  would  often  be 
blinded  in  the  twinkling  of  an  Eye,  if  the  Me- 
dicines applied  to  that  Part  by  empyrical  Pra&ifers 
were  to  immediately  act  upon  the  aqueous  Hu- 
mour. But  how  much  wifer  were  the  ^Egyptians 
in  this  refpect,  who  made  it  the  Bufinefs  ot  a  Per- 
forms whole  Life,  to  be  employed  only  in  the  Cure 
of  Diforders  of  the  Eyes  ;  as  Arifiotle  writes  in  his 
Politics.  Nor  ought  ever  any  painful  Medicine 
to  be  applied  to  the  Eye  but  with  the  greateft 
Caution. 

§.841.  If  the  Uvea  is  inflamed  \  it  occa- 
fions  an  Ophthalmia  extremely  painful,  and 
in  a  little  time  is  highly  deftru&ive  to  the 
Sight  x  'y  if  it  is  followed  by  a  Suppuration,  the 
Sight  is  loft ;  if  the  Uvea  contrails  and  be- 
comes immoveable,  it  occafions  the  Diforder 
termed  Hetneralopia  \  in  which  the  Patient 
can  fee  only  by  Day  5  which  Diforder  like- 

F  wife 


6  6   The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.841.' 

wife  happens  when  a  Cataract  is  fmall,  thin 
on  the  Edges,  and  thick  in  the  middle;  but 
if  the  Uvea  is  immoveable,  and  at  the  fame 
time  much  dilated,  it  then  feems  to  occafion 
the  Diforder  termed  Nyctalopia,  in  which 
the  Patient  fees  better  in  the  Evening,  or  by 
INight,  than  by  Day. 

1  This  Inflammation  is  feated  in  the  fmall  Vef- 
fels,  firft  defcribed  by  Ruyfchy  and  afterwards  by 
Hovius,  in  the  Uvea.  But  the  Iris  is  contracted, 
whenever  the  Rays  of  Light  abound  or  fall  upon 
it  in  great  Numbers  but  when  the  Mufcles  are 
inflamed  they  are  more  painful  when  in  Action 
than  is  tolerable  to  the  Patient,  and  therefore  this 
Difeafe  is  extremely  dangerous,  and  ought  always 
to  be  treated  carefully  with  antiphlogiftic  Me- 
dicines, and  the  Eye  in  the  mean  Time  mould  be 
bound  up,  that  no  Light  may  fall  upon  the. Iris  to 
caufe  ft  to  move,  without  which  Precaution  the 
'  Eye  will  of  Neceffity  fuppurate.  As  long  as  theRays 
of  Light  are  fupportabie,  the  Eye  is  well  enough 
conditioned;  but  when  it  becomes  extremely  pain- 
ful with  the  leaf!  Light,  then  the  Dilbrder  is  feated 
in  the  Iris  or  mufcular  Fibres  of  the  Pupil.  By 
this  Sign  we  alfo  know  that  the  interior  Part  of 
the  Eye  and  not  the  Lids  are  inflamed ;  for  when 
the  Eye-lids  are  inflamed,  the  Eye  itfelf  is  not  in- 
jured by  the  Light.  Thefe  Mufcles  are  at  reft 
in  the  dark,  but  contract  themfelves  at  the  ap- 
proach of  Light,  and  exclude  the  too  numerous 
Rays,  exciting  a  fevere  Pain  at  the,  fame  time. 

4  Which  I  once  obferved  to  happen  in  a  Man 
who  taught  the  Englijh  Language  \  the  Diforder 
proceeded  from  the  Life  of  Collyria,  as  the  Phy- 
iicians  fearched  for  the  Diforder  in  the  Corner,  fo 

that 


§.  842.  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  67 

that  by  this  means  the  Patient  loft  the  Sight  of 
both  Eyes.  There  is  no  room  left  for  delay,  but 
the  Patient  ought  to  be  bled,  even  ad  Deliquium ; 
the  moft  emollient  Fomentations  ought  to  be  ap- 
plied, and  all  the  fame  Remedies  ufed  as  in  a 
Pleurify,  to  prevent  theDiforder  from  tending  to 
Suppuration;  for  if  that  takes  place  ic  is  over  with 
the  Patient's  Sight. 

3  In  the  Evening  the  Pupil  is  extremely  large, 
that  the  Largenefs  of  the  Surface  may  make  up  for 
the  Fewnefs  of  the  Rays.  When  a  great  Quantity 
of  Rays  fall  upon  the  Iris,  it  contracts  and  ex- 
cludes thofe  which  are  fuperfluous.  But  when  the 
Pupil  is  immoveable  and  much  dilated,  then  the 
Eye  will  be  no  more  able  to  fee  in  a  ftrong  Light, 
than  Birds  are  able  to  fee  by  Day,  which  take 
their  Prey  in  the  Night ;  fuch  as  Owls  and  Bats, 
which  avoid  the  Light  of  the  Sun,  becaufe  they 
have  the  Pupil  very  large,  immoveable,  and  with- 
out the  Iris.  But  when  the  Pupil  is  immoveable 
and  contracted  at  the  fame  time,  then  on  the  con- 
trary the  Eye  will  not  be  able  to  fee  but  in  a  very 
ftrong  Light.  But  thePerfection  of  the  Eyeconfifts 
in  being  able  to  adapt  itfelf  to  various  Lights,  con- 
tracting the  Pupil  in  too  ftrong  a  Light,  and  di- 
lating it  in  Darknefs  or  in  a  faint  Light,  fo  as  to 
be  able  of  itfelf  to  acquire  a  Difpofition  fit  for  Vi- 
rion. But  this  Faculty  is  pofTefTed  in  a  higher 
degree  by  Cats,  v/ho  in  the  Day-time  fee  by  fhut- 
ting  their  Pupil,  and  in  the  Night-time  dilate  the 
fame  fo  much  as  to  clearly  perceive  the  lead 
Moufe. 

§.  842.  But  the  cryftalline  Lens  is  alfo 
liable  to  Opacity,  Liflammation  \  Suppura- 
tion, Dropfy,  Corruption,  and  Atrophy  or 
F  2  Wafting, 


68   "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes .  §.842. 

Wafting,  which  may  produce  either  a  Glau- 
coma z  or  Cataract,  either  obfcuring  or  totally 
depriving  the  Eye  of  Sight  by  a  perfect  Opa- 
city, termed  Amblyopia:  but  if  the  fame  cry- 
flalline Lens  is  injured  varioufly  as  to  its 
Figure  \  Bulk,  Thicknefs,  or  Tenuity,  it  will 
create  many,  various,  and  often  wonderful  Dif- 
orders  incident  to  the  Organs  of  Virion. 

1  The  cryflalline  Lens  is  compofed  of  an  in- 
finite Number  of  concentric  or  parallel  Strata  or 
Membranes,  which  are  themfelves  compofed  of 
very  pellucid  Veffels,  conveying  a  mod  pellucid 
Humour,  and  difpofed  clofe  by  the  fides  of  each 
other.  If  now  this  Humour  ftagnates  in  any  of 
thefe  VefTels,  it  immediately  forms  an  Opacity, 
and  we  begin  to  perceive  the  Patient's  Eye  to  be 
of  a  different  Colour  at  the  Pupil  and  this  is  the 
beginning  of  a  Cataract.  That  the  cryflalline 
Lens  is  fubjecl:  to  an  Opacity  may  appear  from 
Heat  or  boiling  Water,  in  which  the  cryflalline 
Lens  being  thrown,  is  always  rendered  opake  and 
white.  At  other  times  the  cryflalline  Lens  fhrinks 
up  and  becomes  dry  or  opake  from  that  Caufe, 
which  being  removed  reftores  the  Faculty  of 
Vifion. 

*  The  celebrated  Woolhoiife  and  hisAdverfaryPro- 
feffor  Heifter,  requefted  of  me  to  give  my  Opinion 
concerning  the  Controverfy  which  lay  betwixt 
them  ;  but  I  thought  it  advifable  not  to  concern 
myfelf  in  their  Contentions.  But  I  think  if  they 
had  rightly  confidered  what  I  have  here  writ,  they 
might  eafily  have  underflood  my  Opinion.  When 
the  cryflalline  Lens  is  opake,  it  leaves  the  Iris 
found  \  but  then  inflead  of  a  very  black  Colour, 
of  which  the  Pupil  ought  to  appear  in  a  healthy 

Perfon, 


§.  842.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  69 

Perfon,  there  feems  to  be  a  white  Body  placed  be- 
hind the  Pupil  •,  and  this  is  nothing  more  than  the 
cryftalline  Lens,  not  pellucid  as  it  ought  to  be. 
Under  thefe  Circumftances  the  Patient  begins  to 
be  deceived  in  his  Sunt  of  Objecls,  and  labours 
under  an  Amblyopia  or  Obfcurity  of  Vjfion.  When 
the  Diforder  continues  and  increafes,  it- is  from  its 
white  or  pearl  Colour  termed  by  the  Antients  a 
Glaucoma-,  but  this  is  a  true  Cataract  which  ought 
to  be  couched  or  depreffed  by  the  Needle.  If  now 
a  Patient  confults  whether  you  can  cure  him  by 
Couching,  piace»him  before  the  Light,  and  in- 
fpect  his  Eyes  accurately  and  if  then  you  per- 
ceive the  Iris  of  its  natural  Colour,  you  ought 
next  to  look  upward  and  downward  under  the 
Iris,  till  you  can  fee  the  cryftalline  Lens.  When 
that  is  opake  it  may  be  couched  by  the  Needle, 
and  the  vitreous  Humour  will  be  thrown  forward 
into  the  Space  left  by  the  cryftalline  Lens,  in  fuch 
a  manner  as  to  give  a  free  Pafiage  for  the  Rays 
of  Light  to  the  Retina  •,  but  then  the  Patient  will 
not  be  able  to  fee  objecls  diftinctly  without  the 
'Ufe  of  very  convex  Spectacles,  which  will  make 
the  Rays  converge  fo  as  to  unite  upon  the  Retina, 
which  they  otherwife  would  not,  from  the  vitreous 
Humours  being  lefs  denfe  and  refractive  than  the 
cryftalline  Lens  which  is  depreffed  or  couched. 
The  Widow  of  the  celebrated  Anatomift  Drelin- 
court  was  couched  for  a  Cataract  by  Raw,  which 
yet  did  not  reftore  her  to  Sight,  until  I  ordered  her 
to  make  ufe  of  very  thick  or  round  Spectacle 
GlafTes,  by  means  of  which  fhe  now  commodioufly 
reads  though  15  or  16  Years  after  Couching — But 
when  the  Diforder  is  not  in  the  cryftalline  Lens, 
but  proceeds  from  an  Opacity  in  the  aqueous  Hu- 
mour, you  will  not  then  be  able  to  fee  the  Iris, 
nor  will  it  be  proper  in  that  Cafe  to  make  ufe  of 
F  3  the 


70  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  843. 

the  Needle  which  ought  likewife  never  to  be  ufed 
when  the  cryftalline  Lens  adheres  to  the  Iris,  or 
when  the  Iris  itfelf  is  fixed  and  immoveable  for 
if  in  this  Cafe  you  fhould  attempt  to  deprefs  or  couch 
the  Cataract,  the  Patient  might  be  loft  fuddenly 
with  Convulfions  ;  namely,  becaufe  the  cryftalline 
Lens  cannot  be  feparated  from  thefe  Surfaces,- 
without  lacerating  a  great  many  Nerves.  I  there- 
fore repeat  it  again  as  an  Admonition,  that  you 
always  infpect  behind  the  Iris  in  all  Cataracts;  and 
if  you  perceive  a  Vacuity  betwixt  the  Uvea  and 
cryftaliine  Lens  behind  the  Iris,  4b  that  Cafe  the 
Lens  is  atLiberry  onall  Sides  and  may  be  depreffed. 
But  if  these  is  no  Space  appears  behind  the  Iris, 
and  you  would  attempt  to  make  ufe  of  the  Needle, 
you  would  certainly  excite  fatal  Convulfions,  or 
induce  other  Diforders,  which  would  not  terminate 
but  with  life  itfelf. 

3  When  the  Figure  of  the  cryftalline  Lens  is 
any  way  changed  or  fplit  into  many  Plains,  the 
Patient  then  fees  as  many  Objects  inftead  of  one, 
as  there  are  plain  Sides  in  the  Lens. 

§.  84^.  Likewife  the  Figure  of  the  Eye 
itfelf  being  too  fpherical  or  protuberant  in 
its  Bulb,  or  the  Pupil  being  too  fmall,  with 
many  more  Circumftances,  not  yet  exactly 
confidered  or  obferved  in  the  length  of  the 
Eye,  and  in  the  cryftalline  Lens,  together 
with  its  Situation,  may  occafion  various  de- 
grees of  fhort-fightednefs  j  as,  on  the  contrary, 
when  the  Eye  is  too  flat  or  plain,  then  accord- 
ing to  the  various  Difpofitions  of  the  Lens  and 
its  Situation,  arifes  a  Sight  which  is  beft  at  a^ 
diftange  \  as  in  old  People. 


Some 


§.  844-*   The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.   j  i 

1  Some  People  cannot  plainly  perceive  near  Ob- 
jects but  if  you  remove  the  Object  to  .a  certain 
diftance,  in  which  it  may  be  diftinctly  feen,  you 
may  itill  remove  it  to  an  infinite  Diftance  farther, 
and  yet  it  will  continue  to  be  diftinctly  feen  by  the 
Eye.  People  thus  affected  are  called  Prefbyopes 
or  old-fighted,  the  Eye  being  in  this  Cafe  more 
flat  or  plain,  as  in  old  People  happens  when  the 
Cornea  is  more  powerfully  contracted  than  it  will 
admit  of  being  expanded  by  the  Humours.  Other 
People  again  fee  near  Objects  the  mod  diftinctly, 
while  remote  Objects  appear  confufed  or  obfcure  -> 
and  fhefe  are  called  Myopes  or  fhort  righted,  hap- 
pening moft  frequently  to  young  People  ;  but  this 
Defect  of  Vifion  is  corrected  and  improved  as  Age 
advances,  with  this  Advantage,  that  when  they 
are  old,  they  can  fee  as  well  as  People  of  a  middle 
Age  furnimed  with  the  bed  Eyes-,  nor  do  they 
ever  ftand  in  need  of  Spectacles  to  enable  them  to 
read.  Both  thefe  Defects  of  Sight  m?.y  be  corrected 
by  the  Ufe  of  Spectacles.  In  the  Myopes  or  fhort- 
fighted,  the  cryftalline  Lens  is  too  round,  and 
caufes  the  Rays  to  unite  or  converge  together  be- 
fore they  reach  the  Retina,  after  which  they  di- 
ver e  again  and  fpread  themfelves  upon  many 
Points  of  the  Retina;  but  this  too  great  Convexity 
of  the  Lens  is  corrected  by  a  concave  Glafs  :  but 
the  Prefbyopes  or  old-fighted,  who  having  their 
Eyes  too  flat  or  plain,  as  the  Rays  terminate  behind 
the  Retina,  are  afiifted  by  convex  Spectacles,  by 
which  the  Rays  are  made  to  converge  together 
fooner. 


§.  844.  But  the  vitreous  Humour  being  fub- 
jedl  to  the  forementioned  Diforders,  (§.  840, 
F4  842.} 


j  2  'The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.845 

842.)  is  obnoxious  to  nearly  the  like  Acci- 
dents and  Appearances. 

§.  845.  The  Membranes  of  the  Retina  are 
furniflied  with  numerous  and  various  Veflels, 
by  which  it  is  rendered  liable  to  different 
Diforders  ;  fuch  as  a  Dropfy  \  Oedema, 
rblyBtma  1  or  little  Blifters,  Inflammation  \ 
Compreffion,  and  the  like  Diforders  of  the 
optic  Nerve,  with  the  Membranes  which  in- 
vert it;  add  to  thefe,  a  Tumor,  Steatoma, 
Abfcefs,  Hydatide,  Stone,  Inflammation,  Ex- 
tenuation, Erofion,  Corruption,  orObftrud/tion 
happening  to  the  Brain  itfelf,  fo  as  to  inter- 
cept either  wholly  or  in  part  the  free  Com- 
munication betwixt  the  optic  Nerve  4  and  its 
Origin  in  the  medullary  Part  of  the  Brain  5  j 
all  thefe  Diforders  occafion  various  Images, 
Clouds,  Sparks  6,  and  at  laft,  an  Amaurofis 7 
or  Gutta  Serena. 

1  This  is  not  at  all  furprizing,  fince  Ridley  has 
demonftrated  lymphatic  Veflels  in  the  Retina, 
which  when  diftended  into  Veficles  fo  as  to  com- 
prefs  the  nervous  Fibres  of  the  Retina,  may  oc- 
cafion  an  Amourofis  or  lofs  of  Sight,  without  any 
vifible  Defect  in  the  Eye. 

*  Thefe  Phly&enas  are  Varices  or  Tumors  of 
the  lymphatic  Veflels. 

3  This  Inflammation  and  Tumor  may  be  feated 
either  in  the  Artery  which  runs  through  the  optic 
Nerve,  obferved  by  Marie  t,  or  in  the  fmaller  ar- 
terial Branches,  demonftrated  by  Ruyfch  in  the  Re- 
tina, and  long  before  known  to  Euftachius. 


At 


§,  845*        Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  73 

4  At  the  bottom  of  the  Eye  behind  the  Axis  of 
Vifion  is  expanded  a  mucilaginous  or  pulp-like 
Production  of  the  optic  Nerves,  upon  the  Surface 
of  which  the  Picture  or  Image  of  every  thing  feen 
is  reprefented,  and  from  thence  conveyed  by  the 
optic  Nerve  to  the  Brain  and  common  Senfory, 
where  is  excited  an  Idea  of  the  thing  feen  ;  and 
in  this  confifts  the  whole  Bufinefs  of  Vifion.  If 
now  there  is  a  Point  in  the  Retina,  upon  which 
Objects  cannot  be  painted,  the  Eye  will  be  blind 
or  infenfible  in  that  Point;  as  when,  for  Example, 
a  drop  of  Blood  is  extravafated  upon  the  Nerve, 
it  will  not  be  able  to  fee  any  thing  in  that  Part, 
and  inftead  of  perceiving  the  Dilorder  itfelf,  it 
will  fee  a  black  Opening  or  Hole,  as  if  it  were  in 
the  Heavens.    If  there  are  a  thoufand  fuch  blind 
Points  in  the  Retina,  the  Eye  will  perceive  as  it 
were  a  thoufand  black  Points  dancing  in  the  Air. 
To  this  Head  belong  Clouds  and  Apparitions  of 
all  kinds,  the  Seat  of  all  which,  according  to  the 
Demonstrations  of  Pitcairn  and  Sir  Cbriftopber 
IVren  before  him,  is  not  in  the  cryftalline  Lens, 
nor  in  the  aqueous  or  vitreous  Humour,  but  in  the 
bottom  of  the  Eye  itfelf,  either  in  the  fanguiferous 
or  lymphatic  VefTels.    In  this  manner  the  Eye  has 
a  natural  Diforder,  fince  it  is  incapable  of  feeing  in 
thofe  Points  where  the  fanguiferous  and  lymphatic 
VefTels  are  placed  \   but  when  thofe  VefTels  are 
diftended,  then  the  blind  Parts  of  the  Eye  are  en- 
larged.   Nor  is  it  wonderful  that  thefe  Defects 
mould  appear  to  us  as  if  thev  were  placed  without 
the  Eye,  fmce  the  common  ^mage  of  every  thing 
feen  is  always  painted  upon  the  Retina,  and  yet 
appears  placed  without  the  Eye. 

5  And  this,  whether  the  Impediment  be  placed 
in  the  optic  Nerve  betwixt  the  Brain  arid  Globe  of 
the  Eye,  or  in  the  Brain  itfelf.    This  laft  happens 

in 


74        Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  846. 

in  an  Apoplexy,  wherein  perfect  Blindnefs  follows 
from  a  Diforder  of  the  Brain. 
,  6  When  I  turn  my  left  Eye  towards  my  left  Side, 
and  at  the  fame  time  comprefs  it  with  my  Finger, 
1  fee  as  it  were  a  great  Flame  •,  but  when  I  in- 
vert the  Retina  and  caufe  the  lower  Part  to  be 
uppermoft,  I. affect  it  aimoft  in  the  fame  manner 
as  it  is  ufually  affected  by  Fire  or  Light  itfelf ; 
and  from  thence  proceeds  the  Flame  which  I  per- 
ceive in  the  bottom  of  the  Eye.  Suppofe  now  an 
Artery  in  the  Retina  to  be  an  hundred  times 
fmaller  than  a  Hair  on  the  Head,  and  that  by 
the  Pulfation  of  this  Artery  the  Retina  is  com- 
preffcd,  you  will  then  eafiiy  perceive  that  fuch  a 
Perfon  will  always  be  liable  to  fee  Sparks  as  it 
were  of  Light  at  every  Pulfation  \  and  this  Dif- 
order, together  with  a  Giddinefs  or  turning  round 
of  the  Objects,  and  the  various  Colours  of  the 
Rainbow,  are  Symptoms  which  ufually  precede  the 
Epilepfy. 

7  Amaurofis  is  Blindnefs  from  a  Diforder  of 
the  optic  Nerve,  or  of  the  common  Senfory,  with- 
out any  apparent  Defect  in  the  Eye  itfelf,  the 
Pupil  being  at  the  fame  time  immoveable,  even 
upon  removing  the  Eyes  out  of  Darknefs  into  a 
very  ftrong  Light.  In  this  Diforder,  no  Perfon  of 
Senfe  will  apply  any  external  Medicines  to  the 
Eye. 

§.  846.  Belides  thefe,  a  Palfy  or  a  Cramp 
of  the  Mufcles  which  move  the  Eye,  various 
Diftortions  of  them  proceeding  from  an  ill 
Difpofition  of  the  Bones  of  the  Orbit,  as  alfo 
from  Wounds,  Ulcers,  Inflammations,  and  a 
Blow  or  Preffure,  may  occafion  the  Eyes  to 
look  towards  the  Nofe  \  to  fquint  %  blink,  or 


3 


§.846.  The  Symptoms  of  Dif cafes.  75 

be  drawn  far  out  of  the  Orbit,  as  in  a  fierce  1 
Afpcct,  with  many,  fuch  furprifing  Disorders 
or  Depravations  of  the  Sight. 

1  Sennertus  gives  us  a  celebrated  Hiftory  of  a 
Perfon,  whofe  abductor  Mufcle  of  the  Eye  being 
entirely  cut  afunder,  the  antagonift  abductor  Muf- 
cles  by  degrees  contracted  the  Eye  inward  to  i'uch 
a  degree,  that  the  Point  of  Vifion  fell  by  the  la- 
chrymal Caruncle,  lb  that  he  was  obliged  to  place 
every  thing  that  he  intended  to  view,  clofe  under 
his  Nofe  ;  and  by  this  means  the  Eye  was  more 
inverted,  and  drawn,  towards  the  Nofe.  But  after- 
wards this  fame  Man  happen'd  to  receive  a  Wound, 
which  perforated  the  Nofe;  and  from  that  time, 
during  the  remaining  Part  of  his  Life,  he  always 
looked  through,  and  beheld  Objects  by  the  Perfo- 
ration in  his  Nofe,  as  through  an  optical  Tube. 

z  There  are  fome  Men  who  have  the  Axis  of 
Vifion  in  a  different  Pofition  from  what  it  has  in 
others.  Thi^  I  have  found  by  Obfervation  upon 
meafuringthe  Ang  es  intercepted  betwixt  the  vifual 
Axis  and  the  Nofe  in  different  People,  when  I 
have  order'd  them  to  look  with  both  Eyes  upon 
the  fame  Object.  From  thence  ariie  different 
Kinds  of  fquinting;  for  fome  People  when  they 
look  on  an  Object  incline  their  Eyes  towards  each 
other,  and  others  on  the  contrary  remove  them 
outward  from  each  other;  whi!e  others  again  look 
with  one  Eye  upward,  and  the  other  downward. 
Thefe  Diforders  arife  either  from  a  Convulfion  or 
a  Palfy  of  the  Mufcles  ;  as  for  Example,  if  the 
Action  of  the  oblique  inferior  Mufcle  could  be  re- 
moved, the  Eye  would  certainly  be  drawn  in  an 
extraordinary  manner  towards  the  oppofiteSide.  If 
the  Mufculus  fuperbus  is  injured,  the  Eye  will  be 
drawn  down,  as  it  will  be  drawn  up  when  the  hu- 

milis 


76  "The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  847. 

milis  Mufcle  is  injured  ;  fo  that  the  Patient  is  obli- 
ged to  bend  his  He  ..wards  every  thing  that  he 
looks  at.  Squinting  therefore  is  when  both  the 
Eyes  turn  outward  irom  the  Nofe  ;  but  Blinking 
is  when  they  turn  inward  towards  the  Nofe. 

3  When  all  the  Mufcles  by  their  conjunct  Pow- 
ers protrude  the  Eye  out  of  its  Orbit,  it  is  faid  to 
goggle,  or  look  fierce.  Thus  Plato  relates,  that  So- 
crates talking  of  his  Soul  a  little  before  Death, 
looked  with  the  Fiercenefs  of  a  Bull  in  his  Eyes. 
All  thefe  Diforders  are  never  underftood,  without 
being  acquainted  with  the  Conditions  required  as 
necefiary  to  Vifion;  nor  ought  Difeafes  of  the  Eyes 
to  be  committed  to  any  wTho  are  not  (killed  in  all 
thofe  Particulars,  with  which  it  is  no  difficult  mat- 
ter for  a  Perfon  to  acquaint  himfelf. 

§.  847.  Laftly,  the  Tunica  Choroides,  with 
the  Tunica  Ruyfchiana  and  Uvea,  being  ex- 
tremely full  of  Biood-veffels,  are  obnoxious  to 
Inflammation  and  Suppuration,  from  whence 
at  length  may  proceed  an  Hypopyon ;  and 
from  various  Diforders  in  the  feveral  different 
Parts  of  the  Eye  may  frequently  be  produced 
various  Symptoms,  as  Deception  of  the  Sight, 
Confufion,  Dulnefs  or  Blindnefs. 

Hence  you  may  perceive  what  an  infinite  Num- 
ber of  Diforders  may  arife  in  this  one  Organ  •,  but 
before  the  Diforder  is  refolved  upon,  the  greatelt 
Care  is  to  be  ufed  to  avoid  Error,  to  which  in 
this  Cafe  one  may  be.  extremely  liable.  Every 
Part  therefore  belonging  to  the  Organ  of  Sight 
ought  to  be  confider'd  by  itfelf ;  by  which  means 
you  may  be  able  to  judge  whether  the  Difeafe  is 
curable  or  not  \  and  if  curable,  you  will  by  the 

fame 


§.  849-  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  77 

fame  means  eafily  determine  the  Remedies  necefla- 
ry  to  be  employed  for  that  purpofe. 

§.  848.  The  principal  Symptoms  of  the 
Hearing  injured,,  may  be  reduced  to  its  In- 
creafe,  Decreafe,  Depravation,  or  entire  Lofs. 

In  the  Senfe  of  Hearing  there  are  ftill  a  greater 
Number  of  Diforders  which  occur  than  in  the 
Sight,  as  there  are  a  greater  Number  of  Parts  em- 
ployed, together  with  feveral  Bones. 

§.  849.  In  the  moft  acute  Diforders  of  the 
Brain,  Nerves  and  Membranes,  thefe  laft  feem 
to  be  over  tenfe;  from  whence  often  arifesan 
intolerable  Sharp?iefs  1  of  the  hearing,  in  which 
the  leafl  Sounds  do  violently  affecl  the  Brain, 
and  fometimes  excite  convulfive  Motions. 

1  When  the  Senforium  commune,  and  the 
Nerves  thereto  belonging,  are  lb  tenfe  as  to  be  vio- 
lently affected  by  the  fmalleft  Impulfe,  the  Senfes 
are  then  too  exquifite,  as  we  oblerve  in  all  acute 
Difeafes,  which  are  in  a  fhort  time  about  to  turn 
into  a  Phrenzy  :  for  the  Patient  under  thefe  Cir- 
cumftances  cannot  bear  the  lead  Noife,  even  of  a 
Perfon  treading  in  the  Room ;  an  Inftance  of 
which  is  given  us  by  the  Illuftrious  Boyle  •>  and  the 
fame  Diforder  likewife  happens  fometimes  to  hy- 
pochondriacal and  hyfteric  Patients. 

•  §.  850.  A  Difficulty  or  Hardnefs  1  of  hear- 
ing is  when  the  Senfation  of  a  Sound  is  lefs 
than  it  ought  to  be  in  a  State  of  Health.  But 
this  may  arife  from  a  great  Number  of  very 

different 


7  8  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.850. 

different  Caufes,  which  may  be  mod  commo- 
dioufly  ranged  and  coniider'd  according  to  the 
ieveral  Parts  affe&ed:  fuch  areaLofs,  or  too 
great  a  Flatnefs  of  the  external  Ear z ;  the 
auditory  Paffage  may  be  t6o  much  in  a  right 
Line,  may  be  too  fmall  or  narrow  \  or  elfe 
obftru&ed  by  fome  T umor  %  Infect,  Matter, 
Scrdes5  or  concreted  Ear-wax  3  the  Membrane 
of  the  Tympanum  may  be  injured,  relaxed, 
tumefied,  render'd  callous,  or  much  too  thick, 
by  a  fpcngy  fungous  Craft 6  adhering  to  its 
Surface  ;  the  internal  Concha  of  the  Ear  may 
be  filled  with  Matter,  Ichor,  Phlegm,  or  a 
Diflenfion  of  the  Membranes  which  invert  it 
on  ail  Sides  ;  a^  alfo  by  Duft  falling  into  that 
Cavity  after  the  Membrane  of  the  Tympanum 
has  been  broke ;  to  which  add  an  Obftruction, 
either  wholly  or  in  part,  of  the  Eajlachian 
"Tnbe1 ;  the  Bones  of  hearing  themfelves  are 
often  ieparated  from  their  Connection  with 
each  other,  and  difcharged  through  the  audi- 
tory Paffage  by  a  Suppuration  of  their  conn ect- 
-  ing  Membranes ;  as  frequently  happens  after 
violent  inflammatory  Pains  in  the  internal 
Ear  ;  or  it  may  proceed  from  an  abfence  of 
the  Bones  of  hearing  through  a  Milcon forma- 
tion ;  from  too  great  a  Drinefs,  Laxitv,  Tu- 
mor, Inundation  of  Humours,  over  Tenfity, 
Corruption,  Erofion,  or  Induration  of  the 
Membranes 3  belonging  to  the  Ftneftra  ovalis 
and  the  Feneftra  rotunda;  thefe  Symptoms 
may  likewile  proceed  from  the  very  different 
Difordersof  theVeftibulum,  Labyrinth,  Coch- 
lea, 


§.  850.  The  Symptoms  of  Dlfeafes.  79 

lea,  or  Meatus  of  the  Os  petrofum  ,  whether 
from  Inflammation  9,  Obftruftion  or  Palfy, 
with  the  Confequences  which  may  again  fol- 
low from  thefe  as  Caufes;  as  alfo  Impediments 
or  Injuries  arifing  from  Mifconformation  in 
thefe  Parts.  Laftiy,  the  fame  may  arife  from 
every  tiling  which  comprefTes  or  obftrudts  the 
foft  auditory  Nerve,  from  its  Entrance  into 
the  Os  petrofum  to  the  Medulla  oblongata,  or 
from  thence  to  its  Origin  in  the  Medulla  of 
the  Brain  itfelf;  as  from  Inflammations,  Tu- 
mors, Exoftofes,  an  Injury  of  the  Function  of 
the  Brain,  with  many  more  Diforders;  from 
whence  appears  the  Difficulty  of  diftinguifhing 
and  curing  theDiforders  incident  to  the  Organ 
of  hearing. 

1  Hardnefs  or  Difficulty  of  hearing  is  when  the 
Ear  receives  a  lefs  Impreffion  from  a  Sound  than  it 
ought  in  a  natural  and"  healthy  State. 

2  This  Diforder  may  be  remedied  by  applying 
the  Hollow  of  the  Hand,  a  Blowing-horn,  or  an 
Inftrument  of  the  like  Shape. 

3  Which  I  obferved  fo  fmall  or  narrow  in  a 
Maid  of  Quality,  that  it  v/ould  hardly  admit  of 
a  fmall  Needle. 

4  For  Example :  A  flefhy  Excrefcence  arifing 
after  the  Cuticle  has  been  abraded. 

5  The*  Cerumen  or  Ear-wax  is  nearly  related  to 
the  Bile,  is  vifcid  and  eafily  concretes,  fo  thac 
mixing  with  the  Dull,  it  forms  a  kind  of  Stopper 
filling  up  the  whole  auditory  PafTage.  This  kind 
of  Deafnefs  is  cured  by  Quacks  and  old  Women, 
by  injecting  faponaceous  Liquors  with  a  Syringe ; 
the  principal  of  which  Liquors  is  made  with  Milk, 

Venice 


80  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §4850. 

Venice  Soap  and  Honey,  with  which  many  have 
been  cured  from  my  Directions. 

6  Such  a  Cruft  is  fpread  over  this  Membrane  in 
the  new-born  Infant,  who  has  hardly  any  auditory 
PafTage,  but  inftead  thereof  a  very  thick  fungous 
Membrane  which  covers  the  Skin  of  the  Tympa- 
num, to  prevent  the  tender  Brain  from  being  in- 
jured by  a  too  ftrong  Impreffion  of  Sound ;  as  we 
alfo  obferve  the  aqueous  Humour  turbid  in  the 
Eyes  of  new-born  Infants,  to  prevent  them  from 
being  convulfed  by  too  ftrong  a  Light.  But  as 
Age  advances,  the  auditory  PafTage  is  extended 
both  in  Length  and  Breadth,  and  the  thick  Mat- 
ter is  difcharged  and  fuppurated,  leaving  only  a 
very  tenfe,  dry  and  naked  Membrane.  But  if  this 
fame  Subftance  lines  the  Tympanum  in  an  adult 
Perfon,  it  muft  injure  the  hearing. 

7  In  a  moft  violent  Quinfy  arifing  fromaPleu- 
rify,  or  a  dry  Peripneumony  afcending  to  the 
Fauces,  as  alfo  in  the  venereal  Difeafe,  the  Open- 
ing of  the  Eujlachian  Tube  is  comprefled  or  ob- 
ftructed,  which  leads  from  the  Cavity  of  the  Tym- 
panum into  theNofe;  fo  that  when  thefe  are  en- 
tirely (hut  up,  the  Patient  is  quite  deaf;  or  if  they 
are  in  partobftru&ed,  the  hearing  becomes  more  or 
lefs  hard  or  difficult.  For  in  this  Cafe  the  Air  ra- 
refied in  the  internal  Concha  is  not  renewed,  but 
thrufts  the  external  Membrane  of  the  Tympanum 
outwards  in  fuch  a  manner  that  it  cannot  perceive 
any  Sound.  ThisJDiforder  is  hardly  curable,  tho' 
there  are  fome  Inftances  of  a  Cure  made  by  inject- 
ing Liquors  into  the  Eujlachian  Tube  itfelf. 

8  When  the  Membrane  of  the  Tympanum  is 
broke,  the  Bones  of  hearing  are  fometimes  dif- 
charged, together  with  a  purulent  Matter  ;  from 
whence  the  hearing  muft  neceftarily  become  hard 
or  difficult,  and  at  laft  ends  in  Deafnefs. 

The 


§.  8  5  * •  3$*  Symptoms  of  Difeafes*    8 1 

9  The  auditory  Nerve  within  the  Skull  is  invert- 
ed in  its  courfe  from  the  Brain  to  the  Ospetrofum 
with  the  Pia  Mater,  which  is  a  Membrane  replete 
with  Blood- vefTels,  liable  to  Inflammation.  But 
if  a  true  Inflammation  there  arifes,  the  Medulla 
of  the  fentient  Nerve  will  be  compreffed,  and 
produce  the  fame  Diforder  in  the  Hearing,  which 
in  the  Sight  we  call  an  Amaurofis,  fometimes 
curable  by  Nature,  but  not  by  Art.  From  hence 
it  is  evident,  that  no  one  can  cure  Deafnefs  without 
being  acquainted  with  all  the  parts  and  Conditions 
necelfary  to  the  Senfe  of  Hearing.  Without  this 
Knowledge  a  Perfon  muft  grope  in  the  dark,  tho* 
he  may  by  good  luck  happen  fometimes  in  trying 
an  hundred  Remedies  to  apply  the  right.  Nor 
yet  is  a  Knowledge  of  the  Diforder  always  fuffi- 
cient  for  a  Perfon  to  cure  it,  except  when  the 
Hearing  is  injured  from  an  Obftruction,  Palfy, 
or  Inflammation  of  the  Membranes ;  which  we 
may  be  able  to  remove  by  the  anthiphlogiftic  or 
cooling  Method :  and  in  this  Cafe  a  principal  Re- 
medy is  to  drop  fome  of  the  hot  Bath- waters  of 
Aix  la  Chapelle^  which  is  a  Method  I  have  ufed  to 
recommend  to  the  Patients  which  I  have  fent  to 
that  Place.  This  is  by  the  Ancients  termed  an 
Embrocation.  Finally,  the  Variety  of  theDifor- 
ders  in  this  Part  is  fuch,  that  one  cannot  directly 
aflign  the  Remedies  which  fhall  be  proper,  with- 
out firft  determining  the  Caufe,  to  which  it  will 
be  ftill  difficult  to  convey  the  Remedy. 

§:  851.  The  Hearing  may  be  alfo  depraved 
through  fome  Defeft  of  the  external  Air,  more 
efpecially  being  too  moiji 1  or  cloudy ;  or  the 
internal1  Air  not  being  able  to  pafs  to  and 
from  the  Cavity  of  the  Ear ;  and  here  we 

G  ought 


8  2   The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.851. 

ought  particularly  to  regard  the  inflammatory 

Difordcrs  1  of  thofe  fmall  Arteries  which  are 
fpread  upon  the  Membranes  throughout  the 
whole  Organ  of  hearing;  for  this  will  eafily 
enable  us  to  underhand  the  Reafon  of  a  tink- 
ling 4,  rumbling,  echoing  5  or  whifpering 
Noife. 

1  It  is  commonly  known  that  a  dry  and  cold 
Air  when  the  North-Wind  blows,  renders  mufi- 
cal  Conforts  more  penetrating  and  refonant ;  but 
when  the  Weft- Wind  blows,  the  Air  being  moid, 
weakens  the  Sound  of  all  mufical  Inftruments,  and 
even  the  human  Voice  itfelf  lofes  its  Strength  from 
the  D erect  of  the  Air,  which  is  lighter  and  more 
moift,  fo  as  to  affect  our  Organs  of  hearing  with 
a  lefs  Force,  while  at  the  fame  time  it  relaxes  the 
Membrane  of  the  Tympanum  itfelf.  Some  deaf 
People  hardly  hear  in  the  lead  when  the  Air  is 
cloudy  and  damp,  whereas  they  can  hear  very 
well  when  the  North-Wind  blows  •,  and  in  this 
Cafe  the  Diforder  proceeds  from  a  Relaxation ; 
and  others  again  hear  belt  with  Weft- Wind,  the 
Diforder  proceeding  from  a  Drinefs  of  the  Mem- 
branes. 

1  The  Tympanum  is  rilled  with  the  ambient 
Air,  which  palles  through  the  Euftachian  Tube  ; 
but  if  this  Communication  of  the  internal  with  the 
external  Air  by  the  Euftachian  Tube  is  intercepted, 
Deafnefs  certainly  follows,  becaufe  the  internalAir 
may  continue  denfeor  in  a  comprefTed  State,  when 
the  external  Air  is  rare  or  light,  and  the  reverfe. 
But  whether  or  no  there  is  any  true  Air  in  the  Ca- 
vity of  the  Veftibulum,  as  Ariftotle  has  taught,  is  in- 
deed to  be  doubted  ;  fince  there  is  no  PalTage  thro* 
thefe  very  hard  Bones,  which  are  almoft  as  perfect 
in  the  Infant  as  in  the  Adult. 

Ruyfch 


§.852.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.    8  3 

3  Ruyfch  has  demonftrated  Blood-vefTds  betwixt 
the  two  Lamella  or  Membranes  of  the  Tympa- 
num, which  Blood-vefTels  fpread  themfelves  like 
Radii  from  a  Center ;  and  thefe  are  liable  to  In- 
flammation, from  whence  may  arife  a  Pulfation^ 
and  then  the  Mind  will  perceive  each  Pulfation  of 
the  Artery  in  the  fame  manner  as  it  perceives  the 
.Stroke  of  the  Malleus.  But  the  fmall  Bones  of 
hearing  are  themfelves  likewife  invefted  by  the 
Perioftea  ;  and  even  Du  Verney  himfelf  was  afto- 
nifhed*  when  he  heard  Ruyfch  had  by  his  Injec- 
tions demonftrated  a  great  Number  of  VefTels 
within  the  Bones  of  hearing. 

4  In  the  Beginning  of  an  Apoplexy  and  acute 
t)ifeafes,  as  alio  after  wounds  of  the  Head,  there 
is  ufually  perceived  a  troublefome  tinkling  in  the 
Ears ;  the  Caufe  of  which  is  the  alternate  Vibra- 
tion of  the  Arteries  too  ftrongly  making  the  audi- 
tory Membranes. 

5  This  Diforder  is  in  the  Nerves,  when  a  Sound 
3s  perceived  fome  time  after  it  was  firft  heard  with** 
out  any  external  Caufe  ;  and  this  proceeds  from  a 
Laxity  or  Removal  of  the  Bones  of  hearing  one 
from  another. 

§.  852.  If  now  all  the  forementioned  Dis- 
orders (§.  849,  850,  851.)  greatly  increafe  or 
continue  a  long  time,  then  follows  a  perfect 
Deafnefs ,  from  whence  proceeds  Forgetfulnefs  \ 
or  a  Lofs  of  the  Speech  5  but  the  Caufe  1  of 
this  Deafnefs  is  alfo  frequently  from  a  Concre- 
tion of  the  Euftachian  Tube,  when  the  Fauces 
have  been  excoriated  in  the  Venereal  Difeafe, 
and  the  crude  or  raw  Lips  concreted  toge- 
ther,- 

G  a  Thej; 


84        Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  853. 

'  They  who  are  born  deaf  never  learn  to  fpeak 
articulately.  It  is  fomething  wonderful  that  all 
Animals  mould  have  their  proper  Tone  of  Voice, 
and  yet  that  two  Men  being  born  deaf,  never  yield 
the  fame  Sounds.  But  when  a  Perfon  is  taught  to 
fpeak  and  by  Accident  becomes  deaf,  after  having 
enjoyed  the  Benefit  of  hearing,  he  then  likewiie 
lofes  the  Faculty  of  fpeaking  fo  that  he  is  obli- 
ged again  to  learn  his  Word:,  or  Speech,  if  he  re- 
covers his  hearing  again  after  many  Years  Deafnefs. 
Perfectly  in  the  fame  manner  is  a  Mufician  obliged 
to  learn  the  Ufe  of  an  Inftrument  which  he  has 
never  ufed  for  the  fpace  of  20  Years. 

4  A  Concretion  of  the  membranous  or  flefhy 
Parts  in  the  venereal  Difeafe,  is  frequently  the 
Caufe  of  Deafnefs. 

§.  853.  The  Senfe  of  Smelling  may  belike- 
wife  either  diminifhed  or  perfectly  loft  from 
various  Caufes,  as  from  1 .  a  Deficiency  1  or 
too  great  Solidity  of  the  four  fpongy  Bones,  or 
a  clofing  up  of  the  Sinusj  2  in  the  Os  frontis, 
upper  Jaw,  and  Os  cuneiforme.  2.  Too  great 
a  Drinefs  1  or  Humidity  4  of  the  olfadtory 
Membrane,  or  an  Inflammation,  Suppuration, 
and  Gangrene  in  the  fame.  3.  From  a  Com- 
preffure  of  the  olfa&ory  Nerves  by  any  Tu- 
mor, Exoftofis,  or  Polypus  5  in  thefe  Parts. 
4.  From  fome  Diforder  in  the  Brain  where 
thefe  Nerves  take  their  Origin,  as  we  obferved 
before  in  the  other  Senfes  5  or  finally,  this 
Senfe  may  be  depraved  from  the  foetid  Smell 6 
of  the  Matter  of  any  kind,  ftagnating  and 
continually  exhaling  into  thefe  Cavities. 


For 


§.8  54*  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  85 

1  For  in  this  Cafe  the  Tenfion  of  the  olfactory 
Membranes  is  too  fmall. 

*  They  who  have  no  frontal  Sinus's,  have  little 
or  no  Smell,  which  is  an  incurable  Diforder. 

3  Hence  it  is,  that  thofe  who  walk  thro'  Tandy 
Defarts,  Jofe  both  their  fmelling  and  hearing  for  a 
time,  until  the  over-dried  Membranes  recover  their 
natural  Moifture. 

4  As  from  a  Redundancy  of  Mucus  in  a  Cold, 
but  more  efpecially  from  an  Inflammation  in  a  ma- 
lignant Cory  za,  particularly  in  a  venereal  Gangrene, 
in  which  the  fmelling  is  deftroyed  without  any 
hopes  of  recovery. 

1  I  obferved  a  Polypus  in  a  Girl  fo  large,,  that 
it  thruft  the  Os  maxillare  outward,  and  deftroyed 
the  Senfe  of  Smelling  by  comprefling  the  whole 
olfactory  Membrane. 

6  I  obferved  this  in  a  Man  of  Worth,  who  fuf- 
fered  the  fame  thing  as  if  he  was  tied  to  a  putrid 
Body ;  a  Lotion  was  ufed  to  be  drawn  through  the 
Nofe,  but  neverthelefs  the  fcetid  fmell  returned  fo 
as  to  be  intolerable  after  Sleep,  that  it  made  Life 
a  Burthen.  TheCaufeof  this  Malady  was  a  Caries 
in  the  Bones  of  the  Nofe  •,  and  the  End  of  it  is  a 
perfect  Lofs  of  Smelling.  Another  Perfon  com- 
plained that  he  had  always  the  Smell  of  Lard.  To 
People  under  this  Complaint  I  order  a  Mixture  of 
Water,  Honey,  Vinegar  and  Salt  to  be  fnufTed 
up  the  Nofe  for  warning  the  Membranes,  and  a 
deterging  Gargle  to  be  ufed  for  the  Fauces ;  by 
which  means  the  Ulcer  may  be  cleanfed. 

§.  854.  The  Tafte  may  be  likewife  either 
diminifhed,  depraved,  or  deftroyed  j  theTafte 
may  be  weakened  or  loft,  when  the  guftatory 
Papilla  I  of  the  Tongue  are  covered  over  with 
G  3  aCruft, 


86  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.854, 

£Cruft?  Sordes,  Mucqs,  Aphths,  fmall  Skins, 
Puftules,  or  Warts,  as  alfo  from  an  Inflarrir- 
mation  and  drying  up  1  of  the  Tongue  ;  while 
at  the  fame  time  the  Nerves  J  of  the  fifth  and 
ninth  Pair  are  often  injured.  But  the  Tafte  is 
depraved  through  the  Defedt  of  fome  predo- 
minant humour,  which  more  efpecially  re- 
fides  often  in  the  Saliva  difcharged  into  the 
Mouth,  which  offending  the  T.afte,  produces 
various  Effects,  and  excites  a  bilious  +,  alcaline, 
acid,  faline  s,  eruginous,  oily,  Jweet  6,  cada- 
verous or  putrid  Tafte,  feeming  to  the  Senfe 
as  if  the  Aliments  taken  into  the  Mquth,  were 
poffefled  of  thofe  Taftes. 

1  When  the  Papillae  are  covered  over  with  Mu- 
cus, as  in  the  Beginning  of  a  Catarrh,  where  a 
phlegmatic  Matter  is  fpread  over  the  whole  Schnei- 
derian  Membrane,  and  fliuts  up  the  Pafiage  open- 
ing from  the  Nofe  to  the  Palate,  fo  as  to  ob- 
struct the  Paffage  of  the  Air. 

1  When  a  Perfon  has  breathed  the  Air  through 
his  Mouth  only  for  fome  Hours,  as  often  happens 
when  the  Noftrils  are  ftopt  up,  we  then  obferve 
that  the  Tongue  becomes  dry,  and  the  Tafte  is 
loft  for  the  prefent. 

3  It  is  certain  that  fhefe  two  Nerves  are  liable 
to  a  great  Number  of  Accidents  betwixt  their 
Origin  from  the  common  Senfory,  and  their  In- 
fertion  into  the  Tongue. 

4  In  this  Cafe  all  the  Aliments  feem  bitter  tq 
the  Tafte,  as  we  obferve  in  a  Jaundice. 

5  Thofe  who  recover  after  a  fevere  ardent  Fe- 
ver, perceive  as  it  were  an  abominable  faline  Tafte 
in  all  their  Aliments,  evenfuch  as  are  perfectly  frefh 
and  without  the  leaft  Salt:  for  in  theft  the- nervous 

Papillae 


8^5-  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  87 

Eapillse  King;  a  long  time  dry  and  cover'd  with  a 
Cru Lr,  and  th  n  on  a  fudden  fet  at  liberty  from 
the  g  naked  and  moift,  are  too  ftron^Jy 

\  irritated  ,r  affected  by  Objects,  fo  that  th?y  be- 
cc Hi.  painful  even  by  a  moderate  Sharpnefs  in  the 
Fr  >d.  The  fame  Diforder  may  likewife  proceed 
from  fome  Acrimony  or  Defect  in  the  Saliva. 

6  A  i-'erfon  who  has  been  eating  of  Sugar,  and 
then  drinks  a  Glafs  of  tart  Wine,  will  think  the 
Wine  to  be  of  a  very  different  Tafte,  from  what 
it  would  appear  to  have  if  drank  without  any  Su* 
gar  preceding.  They  who  undergo  a  Salivation 
with  Mercury  for  the  venereal  Difeafe,  accufe  their 
Food  with  having  a  foetid  Smell;  but  the  Putre-  « 
faction  which  they  think  is  contained  in  the  Food, 
refides  only  in  their  own  Breath. 

§.  855.  The  Senfe  of  Touch  is  ufually  inju- 
red for  the  moft  part  by  a  Stupor  or  Numb- 
nefs,  hardly  perceiving  Objects,  or  at  leaft  but 
very  dully  \  as  if  fomething  was  interpofed 
betwixt  the  Object  and  the  Organ  ;  which 
may  happen  from  extreme  Cold 1  in  the  Or- 
gan of  Touch,  or  from  fome  Defect  either  in 
the  Nerve  or  in  the  Brain  itfelf,  as  alfo  from 
the  Interpofition  of  fome  improper  Matter  be- 
twixt the  Object  and  the  Senfory.  The  Senfe 
of  Touch  may  again  be  too  acute  or  exquifite, 
either  for  want  of  the  Nerve  being  fufficiently 
covered  by  the  Cuticle  \  and  perhaps  from  - 
the  Nerve  being  at  the  fame  time  too  tender, 
or  over-ftretched.  But  when  the  Senfe  of 
Touch  is  entirely  loft,  that  may  proceed  from 
any  Caufe  rendering  the  Brain,  Nerves,  or 
both  of  them  unfit  to  perform  their  Office 
G  4  with 


/ 


88  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  855. 

with  refpe£t  to  this  Senfe,  as  is  fufficiently  evi- 
dent from  the  Hiftory  of  an  Apoplexy  and 

1  This  is  a  Sign  that  the  Nerves  and  Brain  are 
much  injured,  and  frequently  prefages  a  future 
Apoplexy. 

*  When  the  Hands  are  almoft  frozen  with  Cold, 
they  can  perceive  nothing  accurately  by  the 
Touch. 

3  We  have  Accounts  of  a  certain  Prince  of  Li- 
thuania in  Poland  bom  without  a  Cuticle,  and  of 
another  at  Amfterdam.  Thus  alfo  when  we  cut 
our  Finger  Nails  too  clofe  to  their  Roots,  they 
ufually  give  Pain  and  Uneafinefs  from  touching 
every  thing,  becaufe  the  Papillae  not  being  fufRci- 
ently  defended  by  them,  are  too  exquifite  in  their 
Senfe. 

*  Hitherto  we  may  alfo  refer  a  Stupor  or 
Nurnbnefs  excited  by  the  Fifh  Torpedo,  by  touch- 
ing which,  a  moft  painful  or  troublefome  Senfa* 
tion  follows,  which  excites  a  Pain  even  at  the 
Heart.  This  has  been  long  ago  obferved  by  the 
Ancients,  who  though  derided  without  Caufe  by 
the  Moderns,  are  neverthelefs  vindicated  by  the 
Experiments  of  Malpghi  and  Borelli  \  from  whence 
it  appears,  that  upon  touching  the  Torpedo,  the 
tactile  Nerves  throughout  the  whole  Body  vibrate 
in  the  fame  manner  as  when  a  Finger  is  rubbed  up- 
on the  Table  with  a  tremulous  Motion,  or  as 
when  a  Knife  fcratches  a  Piece  of  Glafs,  which  in 
many  People  excites  a  difagreeable  Senfation  in  the 
Teeth,  which  are  faid  by  this  means  to  be  fet  on 
edge,  the  fame  thing  fp reading  not  only  through 
every  Finger,  but  alfo  throughout  the  whole  Bo* 
dy.  Thefe  Effects  of  the  Torpedo  have  been  re- 
lated to  me  for  Truth  by  many  who  have  returned 


§.856.  'The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  89 

from  the  Indies  %  and  it  is  not  difficult  to  con- 
ceive that  the  Agitation  of  the  nervous  Syftem 
fhould  be  communicated  to  the  cardiac  Plexus, 
whence  a  Cardialgia  or  Pain  at  the  Heart. 

§.856.  Watchfulnefs  or  Inability  to  fleep 
proceeds,  1 .  From  too  plentiful  Determination 
of  the  nervous  Juice  to  the  Organs  of  Senfe. 
2.  From  too  great  a  Determination  of  the 
fame  towards  the  Brain,  by  an  Obftrudtion  in 
the  lower  Parts  from  Cold1,  or  any  other 
Caufe  5  as  we  fee  in  hypochondriacal,  melan- 
choly, and  maniacal  Patients,  as  alfo  in  thofe 
who  have  their  Feet  cold.  3.  From  Irrita- 
tion 1  of  any  kind  upon  any  Part  capable  of 
vellicating  the  Organs  of  Senfe,  efpecially  the 
Brain.  4.  From  too  great  a  Motion  3  of  the 
Humours  towards  the  Head,  while  the  fecre- 
tory  Dudls  of  the  Brain  are  as  yet  pervious  and 
open.  5.  From  Difeafes  in  which  any  of  the 
forementioned  Circumftances  prevail,  as  from 
Fevers,  a  Phrenzy,  Melancholy,  Pains,  Sup- 
purations, and  Diforders  of  the  like  kind. 

1  If  you  are  careful  to  keep  the  Head  cool,  and 
the  Feet  warm  in  hypochondriacal  People,  you 
may  depend  upon  removing  their  troublefome 
Watchings. 

1  Whether  Pain,  Care,  or  any  other  Paflion  of 
the  Mind. 

3  When  I  was  afflicted  with  an  acute  Difeafe 
fome  Years  fince,  I  perceived  my  Mind  to  be 
more  acute,  and  my  Thoughts  more  quick  than 
in  Health,  and  therefore  I  was  afraid  of  a  Deliri- 
um, and  not  without  Reafon. 

§•'857. 


go  The  Symptoms  of  D  if  cafes.  §.857. 


§.  857.  But  over  Sleepinefs  1  proceeds  ufu- 
ally  from  every  Caufe  impeding  the  free  Afflux 
and  Reflux  of  the  healthy  Spirits  abounding 
in  great  Quantity  from  the  medullary  Part  of 
the  Brain  to  the  Organs  of  Senfe  and  volunta- 
ry Motion,  and  again  from  thefe  to  the  Origin 
of  their  Nerves  in  the  Medulla  of  the  Brain  j 
and  of  this  the  Caufes  are  very  numerous;  but 
may  yet  be  eafily  referred  to  a  Plethora  %  Ob- 
ftruction,  Extravafation  of  the  Humours,  a 
Compreffion  of  the  Veflels,  Inflammation, 
Suppuration,  Gangrene,  Weakneis,  aCollap- 
fion  of  the  VerTels  from  Inankion,  the  Ufe 1 
of  Opium  4  and  narcotic  Medicines,  of  Spices  *3 
fpirituous  cr  fermented  Liquors,  either  too 
much  applied  to  the  Nofe6,  or  t^Iien  into  the 
Body;  to  which  add  Aliments,  hard,  fat, 
and  taken  in  great  Plenty,  fb  as  to  lie  a  long 
time  upon  the  Stomach,  efpecially  eating  too 
great  a  Quantity  7  of  fuch  Food  at  a  time. 

1  Sleep  is  a  Reft  or  Inactivity  of  the  common 
Senfory  ;  and  fuch  things  caufe  Sleep,  as  procure 
a  Reft  and  Inactivity  in  this  Part  of  the  Brain. 

a  The  Blood  of  plethoric  People  rarefies  in  the 
Summertime,  and  renders  the  Veflels -before  di- 
flended  extremely  tenfe.  But  all  other  Parts  of 
the  Body  refill:  the  Blood's  Impulfe,  while  the  Brain 
only  can  neither  refift  the  Blood,  nor  yield  or  di- 
late outward  ;  and  therefore  the  whole  Increafe  of 
Diftenfion  will  be  employed  in  comprefling  the 
Veflels  and  foft  Medulla  of  the  Brain  ;  whence 
Sleepinefs,  and  fometimes  a  fatal  Apopolexy. 

Opium 


§.857-  7%e  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  91 

I  Opium  exerts  ics  Force  while  it  is  yet  retain- 
ed in  the  Scomach,  before  it  has  entered  the  Mafs 
of  B  ood.  I  caufed  a  Dog  ro  fwailow  Opium 
againit  his  Will,  and  afterwards  when  he  began 
to  be  convulfed  by  the  Medicine,  I  opened  him, 
and  found  the  Opium  yet  retained  in  the  Stomach; 
and  therefore  it  follows  from  hence,  thut  Opium 
exerts  its  Efficacy  by  the  Nerves  of  the  Stomach 
jtfelf,  or  at  lead  that  it  does  not  require  to  pais 
into  the  Blood,  by  the  long  Courie  of  che  Chyle, 
in  order  to  produce  its  EffeeTs. 

4  If  any  Medicine  has  a  fpecifical  Operation  or 
Virtue  to  acl:  upon  fome  certain  Part  of  the  Body, 
it  is  certainly  that  of  Opium,  which  exerts  its 
Force  not  on  the  vital,  but  on  the  animal  Spirits. 
When  a  dofe  of  Opium  is  given  to  any  Perfon  not 
accuitomed  to  it,  it  affedts  them  fo  that  they  can- 
not fleep,  but  perceive  as  it  were  a  fort  of  plea^- 
iant  Vifion,  or  Entertainment  of  the  Mind,  as  if 
they  were  tranfported  into  Heaven ;  and  this  more 
efpecially  if  the  Patient  has  been  firft  tortured  with 
fevere  Pains.  I  have  known  fome,  who  after  ta- 
king Opium  to  eafe  the  Pain  of  the  Gout,  have 
protefted  they  would  give  all  they  had  in  the 
World,  if  they  might  perpetually  remain  in  the 
fame  Condition  they  were  in  after  taking  the  Opi- 
um. Opium  therefore  does  not  acl  by  compreffing 
the  Brain,  nor  fupprefhng  the  Spirits,  or  laying 
them  afleep  ;  but  by  degrees  it  operates  on  the  Spi- 
rits, fo  as  to  excite  the  mod  agreeable  Repofe 
when  given  in  a  fmal)  Quantity,  but  in  a  greater 
Quantity  it  excites  Sleep  and  thus  alfo  the  moil 
intenfe  Pleafures  cannot  be  fuftained  for  a  long 
time  without  fainting. 

5  The  Druggifts  inform  me,  that  they  fall  into 
$n  infuperable  Sleepinefs,  when  they  come  tp 
open  the  Chefts  of  Spices  brought  from  the  I  aft 
Indies.  A  Per- 


92  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.858. 

6  A  Perfon  who  has  fmelt  a  long  time  at  aVelTel 
full  of  ftrong  Wine,  will  be  equally  fuddled  and 
difpofed  to  Sleep,  as  if  he  had  drank  Wine. 

7  Efpecially  Food  of  hard  Digeftion,  fuch  as 
Beef,  with  which  the  Stomach  being  filled,  prefies 
againft  the  defcending  Aorta,  fo  as  to  caufe  the 
Blood  to  flow  in  a  greater  Quantity  to  the  Brain. 

§.  858.  A  Coma  Vigil  \  or  an  infuperable 
Propenfity  to  Sleep,  with  a  perpetual  waking 
from  terrible  Dreams,  may  proceed  from  the 
forementioned  Caufes  1  (§.  857.)  or  others  of 
the  like  nature,  accompanied  with  a  great 
Stimulus  or  Irritation,  and  for  the  molt  part 
with  a  violent  Inflammation.  But  a Jleepy  Co- 
ma 3  in  which  the  Patient  is  continually  keep- 
ing, and  when  awaked  falls  into  it  again, 
proceeds  generally  from  almoft  the  fame  Cau- 
fes as  before-mentioned  (§.  857.)  only  more 
intenfe  or  violent.  A  Cams 4  is  a  profound 
Sleep  with  a  fudden  Lofs  of  Senfe  and  Motion, 
accompanied  with  an  acute  Fever,  the  Pa- 
ttern being  very  difficultly  awaked  $  fo  that  it 
feems  to  be  a  flight  kind  of  the  Inflammatory 
Apoplexy.  A  Lethargy  5  is  a  profound  quiet 
Sleep  without  dreaming  or  the  Remembrance 
of  any  thing,  proceeding  from  a  flow  and 
cold  Caufe ;  but  in  other  refpecls  refembling 
the  many  Caufes  before  mentioned  (§.  857.) 
and  often  arifes  from  the  Concurrence  of  fe- 
yeral  different  Caufes  among  thofe  before 
mentioned.  A  Cataphora  differs  but  little 
from  the  preceding. 


Thk 


§.  858.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.   9  3 

1  This  feems  to  confift  in  a  great  part  of  the 
Brain  being  collapfed,  while  the  reft  remains  free 
and  pervious ;  and  therefore  the  Humours  are  de- 
rived in  a  greater  Quantity  to  this  Part  than  is  able 
to  pafs  through  the  Veflels  \  and  hence  it  often 
terminates  in  an  Inflammation  of  the  Brain. 

1  There  are  fome  who  fleep  fo  found,  that  they 
may  be  carried  even  to  remote  Parts  without  wak- 
ing ;  for  they  are  as  infenfible  to  what  is  done  to. 
them,  as  we  are  of  the  Motion  of  a  Boat  carried 
along  by  a  Ship. 

3  I  remember  a  Perfon  having  received  a  Blow 
upon  the  Head,  fell  into  a  perpetual  Sleep,  fb 
that  he  could  not  be  awaked  by  any  Art  but  upon 
opening  the  Head  after  Death,  agreat  Quantity 
of  Blood  was  found  extravafated  under  the  Cra- 
nium. 

4  A  Carus  is  a  profound  Sleep  with  an  acute 
Fever;  and  it  denotes  an  Inflammation  of  the 
Brain,  fo  great  that  no  Part  remains  capable  of 
being  freely  pervaded  by  the  Spirits. 

5  A  Lethargy  arifes  from  a  cold  and  flow  Caufe, 
obftructing  the  Veflels  of  the  Brain  in  fuch  a 
manner  that  no  Spirits  can  be  feparated,  whence 
a  perpetual  Sleepinefs  muft  confequently  follow. 
When  thatLiquor  is  deficient  which  ought  to  flow 
through  the  fmalleft  Veflels,  natural  Sleep  follows, 
becaufe  that  fubtle  Liquor  can  only  be  repaired  by 
Sleep,  in  the  fame  manner  as  we  obferve  the  thick 
Albumen  of  the  Egg  attenuated  by  the  fitting 
Hen,  fo  as  to  be  capable  of  exhaling  thro'  the 
Shell  in  a  volatile  State.  For  in  this  manner  in 
Sleep,  by  a  moderate  and  equal  Warmth,  the 
Parts  of  the  Humours  are  rendered  very  fubtle  ; 
nor  can  the  Humours  of  our  Body  be  digefted  and 
reduced  to  that  neceflary  degree  of  Subtlety  with- 
out Sleep,  any  more  than  the  Albumen  of  the 


94  "The.  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  859, 

J?gg  can  be  attenuated  without  the  Heat  of  the 
fitting  Hen. 

§.  859.  Anaijlohefia  1  is  a  total  lofs  of  the 
Faculty  of  perceiving  fenfible  Objects  upon 
the  Organs  of  the  external  Senfes ;  which  in- 
cludes the  various  degrees  of  this  Diforder* 
fuch  as  Stupidity,  Duilnefs,  or  Confufion  of 
the  Senfes  ;  the  Memory  z  being  lefs  or 
greater  than  ufual,  aboliihed  or  confufed1  < 
the  Faculty  of  Judging,  weak,  deftroyed,  or 
confounded ;  the  Faculty  of  Reafoning  in- 
ftable,  loft  or  difturbed  ;  a  Delirium  4, 
Foolijhnefs  5,  raving  or  melancholy  Madnefs,. 
with  a  depraved  Imagination,  and  all  the 
Diforders  which  may  be  hitherto  referred : 
All  which  may  proceed  indeed  from  many 
and  very  different  Caufes  6,  which  yet  may 
be  commodioufly  reduced  to  thofe  before 
enumerated  (§.  836  to  859);  having  ft  ill  a 
regard  to  the  Age,  Pajjiom  \  Rigidity,  Laxi- 
ty *,  and  Concretion  9,  or  Lofs  of  the  Solids, 
with  an  Infpiffation,  Acrimony,  or  Inactivity 
and  Sluggifhnefs  of  the  Humours,  which 
are  obferved  to  be  the  chief  among  other 
Caufes. 

1  This  is  fuch  a  State  of  the  common  Senfory,  that 
the  Mind  there  refiding  either  does  not  take  notice 
of  the  Ideas  brought  there  from  external  Objects,- 
or  elfe  the  common  Senfory  itfelf  is  fo  difordered* 
that  it  can  receive  none  of  the  Motions  from 
external  Objects,  or  at  leaf!  can  reprefent  none  of 
them  to  the  Mind.  It  is  a  Law  of  human  Natard 
known  by  Experience,  though  not  to  be  explained, 


§.859*  The  Symptoms  of  Dlfeafes. 

that  there  is  a  certain  Part  in  the  Brain,  and  not 
its  whole  Surface,  to  which  our  Thoughts  are 
confined,  according  as  they  are  by  our  Wills  pre- 
fixed to  certain  things  :  as  for  Example,  there  is 
a  Latin  Hiftory  of  fome  cruel  Tyrant ;  if  that  be 
given  to  an  Arabian,  he  will  fee  the  Lines,  Circles, 
Figures,  Paper,  and  nothing  more  ;  but  if  the 
fame  is  given  to  a  Perfon  fkilled  in  Latin,  his  Eyes 
will  in  Reality  fee  no  more  than  the [Arabian  5  and 
yet  different  Ideas  will  arife  in  his  Mind  of  Pity, 
Anger,  Indignation,  &c.  Hence  it  is  evident, 
that  the  Letters  themfelves  do  not  excite  Thoughts, 
and  yet  that  by  Cuftom  or  Ufe,  fixing  Ideas  to 
certain  arbitrary  Characters,  the  fame  Thoughts 
are  recalled  by  thofe Characters  •,  nor  is  it  neceffary 
to  produce  a  change  in  the  whole  Body,  in  order 
to  deceive  the  right  Mind  or  way  of  thinking  in  a 
Perfon,  fince  that  may  be  produced  by  the  flighted 
change  in  the  common  Senfory. 

1  Sometimes  the  Memory  is  too  flrong  and  at- 
tentive, as  in  melancholy  People,  who  have  al- 
ways the  fame  Idea  prefented  to  their  Mind.  When 
the  Memory  is  loft,  all  the  other  Faculties  perifli, 
both  the  Underftanding,  Judgment,  and  even 
thinking  itfelf.  A  Perfon  begins  to  date  their 
Being  from  the  time  which  they  can  remember  5 
and  their  Being  ceafes  with  refpecl:  to  themfelves, 
fo  foon  as  they  are  deftitute  of  Memory  ;  for  to 
remember,  is  to  be  confcious  or  fenfible  of  the  pre- 
fent  Thought,  compared  with  fome  preceding 
Thought.  When  this  Faculty  of  the  Memory  is 
deftroyed,  the  Mind  becomes  a  cogitative  Atom, 
deftitute  both  of  the  Knowledge  of  itfelf,  and  of 
the  Judgment  between  Good  and  Evil ;  for  even 
Self-knowledge  fuppofes  a  former  Idea.  But  this 
Faculcy  of  Memory,  fo  long  as  we  live,  depends 
upon  the  Body,  with  which  it  grows  up  or  im- 

proveSj 


gb  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  859. 

proves,  and  at  laft  ceafes.  Infants  and  old  People 
are  almoft  deftitute  of  Memory,  which  is  the 
ftrongeft  in  thofe  who  have  theNerves  in  theBrtfin 
mod  tenfe,  the  VefTels  molt  numerous,  and  the 
feweft  of  them  callous.  It  may  be  afked  then, 
whether  or  no  we  think  after  Death  ?  But  con- 
cerning this  I  doubt.  Concerning  thefe  Socrates 
has  wifely  treated  to  Crito. 

1  Socrates  was  fo  overcome  by  drinking  an  un- 
ufual  Quantity  of  good  Wine  at  the  Feaft  of  Alci- 
biades,  that  being  difordered  in  Mind,  he  ordered 
the  Mufician  to  play  up  fomething  ludicrous,  that 
he  might  dance  to  it,  nor  did  he  refrain  from 
dancing.  In  this  Cafe,  the  Feaft  flood  in  need  of 
a  Phyfician  to  correct  the  fmall  Acrimony  and 
Difturbance,  oecafioned  by  the  Wine. 

4  This  is  as  true  as  incredible,  being  equally  cer- 
tain with  mathematical Demonftration.  A  learned 
Man  took  fome  Seeds  of  Henbane  among  thofe  of 
Poppies,  but  after  a  few  Minutes  he  began  to  be 
delirious,  in  fuch  an  extraordinary  manner  as  was 
hardly  ever  known ;  but  a  prudent  Phyfician  vo- 
mited the  Patient  with  a  Dram  of  Vitriolum  Al- 
bum, which  difcharged  the  Seeds  unaltered  from 
his  Stomach,  and  immediately  reftored  him  to 
his  Senfes  and  right  Mind.  Such  was  the  power- 
ful Effect  of  a  fmall  Quantity  of  thefe  Seeds  com- 
municated to  the  Brain. 

5  In  Foolifhnefs,  the  Connexion  of  the  pre- 
ceding with  the  fubfequent  Idea  is  depraved  for 
after  one  Idea  has  been  raifed  in  the  Mind,  it  is 
entertained  with  another,  having  no  Congruity 
with  the  former.  For  the  Ideas  of  Fools  are  not 
foolifh  feparately,  or  in  themfelves,-  but  only  in 

1  the  Connexion  and  Relation  of  the  preceding  with 
the  followingldeas. 


The 


§.  859*  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  97 

6  The  Pafllons  of  the  Mind  arife  generally  from 
fome  Condition  of  the  corporeal  Organs  ;  for  in 
a  healthy  Perfon  it  is  not  eafy  to  excite  Sorrow, 
or  even  if  there  is  a  NecefTity  for  him  to  imitate 
Sorrow,  there  will  always  appear  fome  joyful 
Signs  of  Health  ;  but  in  a  melancholy  Perfon  you 
will  hardly  be  able  to  excite  Mirth,  until  you  have 
firft  changed  the  whole  habit  of  Body. 

7  A  Perfon  who  is  in  Love,  fees  and  thinks  of 
nothing  but  his  darling  Girl,  in  the  fame  manner 
as  a  Geometrician  thinks  of  nothing  but  his  Lines, 
and  confiders  himfelf  as  if  alone  in  the  World, 
looking  upon  all  the  reft  as  nothing. 

8  In  leucophlegmatic  Habits,  the  Memory  and 
Senfes  are  generally  impaired,  from  a  Laxity  of 
the  Solids,  and  Impervioufnefs  of  the  Fluids  ;  and 
therefore  fuch  are  to  be  cured  by  ftrengthening  the 
Habit :  but  in  a  Phrenzy,  the  contrary  Method  is 
to  be  taken,  namely,  the  too  great  Tenfion  is  to 
be  removed  by  relaxing  the  Fibres.  In  the  firft 
Cafe,  Stimuli  are  to  be  added,  but  in  the  laft  they 
are  to  be  quieted. 

9  From  this  Concretion  of  the  folid  VefTels, 
arifes  the  Anaifthefia  or  Infenfibility  of  old  People, 
whofe  Minds  ceafe  to  be  any  longer  a  Looking- 
glafs  to  the  World.  In  fuch  the  Perception  and 
Senfes  by  degrees  grow  dull,  and  the  Mind  begins 
to  reflect  upon  itfelf,  neglecting  the  Ideas  which 
it  acquired  in  former  times.  This  Misfortune  of 
old  Age  is  beautifully  defcribed  by  Barzillai,  when 
being  invited  to  the  Table  of  David,  he  prayed  to 
have  that  Flonour  transferred  to  his  Son,  fince  all 
the  good  things  would  be  ufelefs  to  him,  for,  fays 
he,  I  am  this  Day  fou'rfcore  Years  old,  am  neither 
able  to  diftinguifh  betwixt  Good  and  Evil,  nor 
can  talte  what  I  eat  or  drink,  nor  hear  the  Voice 
of  the  finging  Men  and  Women,  tsV.    Vid.  2 

H  Samxsl 


98  7%e  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  860. 

Samuel  x\x.  36,  &  feq.  In  the  fame  manner  alfo 
the  Paflions  of  the  Mind  depend  in  a  great  Meafure 
upon  the  Condition  of  the  Body  ;  for  an  hypo- 
chondriacal Perfon  will  remain  ferious  in  the  midft 
of  the  moft  diverting  Objects  whereas  a  Perfon 
who  is  naturally  deftined  to  Mirth,  will  hardly 
refrain  from  his  Jocofenefs,  even  in  the  midft  of 
the  public  Broils. 

§.  860.  An  Apoplexy  is  a  total  and  fud- 
den  lofs  of  all  the  external  and  internal  Senfes, 
with  the  voluntary  Motions,  the  Refpiration 
and  Pulfe  continuing,  and  are  often  increafed 
while  thofe  Functions  remain,  which  imme- 
diately refult  from  the  former.  The  caufe 
thereof,  is  any  thing  in  the  Brain  1  which 
obftructs  the  Courfe  of  the  Spirits  from  their 
Origin  in  the  Medulla  of  the  Brain  through 
the  Nerves  of  the  Cerebrum;  and  this  may 
be  manifold,  and  may  be  commodioufly  re- 
duced to  fuch  things  as  comprefs  the  Brain, 
either  externally  or  internally,  according  to 
the  five  principal  Clafles  following  :  fuch  as, 
j-;  Fraffures\  Depreffions,  Exoftofes\  Tu- 
mors, and  Compreffions  of  the  Skull,  efpe- 
cially  in  Youth  and  Childhood,  while  the 
Bones  are  yet  tender.  2.  Humours,  bloody, 
ferouc,  purulent,  phlegmatic,  or  fanious,  ftag- 
nating  or  extravafated  in  thofe  Parts  where  they 
may  comprefs  and  erode  the  Brain  or  its  Mem- 
branes, as  betwixt  the  Cranium  and  its  Me- 
ninges, betwixt  thefe  laft  and  the  Brain  itfelf, 
in  the  Ventricles  of  the  Brain  at  the  medulla 
Oblongata,  and  at  the  medulla  Spinalis.  3 .  Tu- 
mors, 


§.  86o.  'The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  99 

mors,  inflammatory,  watery,  ferous,  puru- 
lent, mucous,  febaceous,  fcirrhous  or  ftony, 
formed  in  the  fame  Parts,  and  producing  the 
fame  Effe&s  by  their  Compreffure.  4.  All 
Impediments  to  the  free  Courfe  of  the  Blood 
to  and  through  the  Brain,  more  efpecially 
from  Injuries  of  the  Vejjels  4,  either  by 
Wounds,  a  Compreffure,  Obftrudtion  by 
fome  polypous  Concretion,  or  a  withering  of 
them.  5.  Impediments  to  the  Blood  in  the 
fmall  Veins,  Sinus's,  and  jugular  Veins  \ 
through  which  the  Blood  ought  to  pafs  freely 
from  the  Brain  3  but  thefe  laft  Impediments 
arife  chiefly  from  a  Compreffure  of  the  Veins, 
or  a  SpiJJitude  6  of  the  Humours. 

1  It  cannot  be  any  where  elfe,  fince  it  is  nothing 
more  than  an  Impediment  of  the  prefent  Afflux 
and  Reflux  of  the  animal  Spirits,  into  and  from 
the  Nerves  for  Senfation  and  voluntary  Motion. 
This  is  the  proximate  Caufe,  but  the  remote 
Caufes  may  be  almoft  innumerable,  though  they 
all  terminate  in  this  one  immediate  or  proximate 
Caufe.  But  this  Multiplicity  of  the  remote  Caufes, 
makes  it  necefTary  to  reduce  them  to  certain  Gaffes. 
It  is  an  Obfcrvation  of  Bellini,  that  Fainting, 
Sieepinefs,  and  fometimes  a  Stertor  follow  after 
Bleeding,  becaufe  the  Preffure  of  the  Blood  upon 
the  Encephalon  is  by  that  means  removed  •,  but 
when  the  Perfon  receives  no  Blood  to  the  Cere- 
bellum, he  mult  infallibly  expire.  In  an  Apo- 
plexy alfo,  the  Perfon  feemsto  be  infenfible  of  his 
own  Being,  fince  ail  the  Actions  ceafe  which  de- 
pend on  the  Mind,  both  Senfe  and  Motion,  while 
the  vital  Faculty  only  remains  entire,  fo  that  the 
H  2  Perfon 


\TY  OF  M^^5v 

ipo  5$^  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  860. 

•  eEe*f(m3lives  as  iywere  for  the  time  the  Life  of  a 
Plant. 

ft  TO^M^naturally  no  fpace  betwixt  the  Ence- 
phalon  and  Bones  of  the  Skull,  even  none  fo  much 
as  to  be  capable  of  receiving  a  fmgle  drop.  If 
now  the  Skull  is  deprefifed,  or  any  Humour  ex- 
travafated  betwixt  the  Brain  and  the  Bone,  by  di- 
minifhing  the  Capacity  of  the  Cranium,  the  Ence- 
phalon  muft  of  Neceflity  be  comprerTed,  'till  a 
Space  is  again  made  ;  and  this  is  the  Reafon  of 
Apoplexies  proceeding  from  Accidents  requiring 
the  Afliftance  of  the  Surgeon.  I  faw  an  Apoplexy 
in  a  new-born  Infant,  and  fufpecting  that  the  Head 
was  comprerTed  by  the  Midwife,  or  too  tightly 
bound  by  the  Nurfe,  I  ordered  all  the  Dreflings 
to  be  taken  off,  whereupon  the  Child  furprifingly 
returned  to  itfelf,  almoft  in  lefs  time  than  one  can 
tell  twenty. 

3  A  certain  Nobleman  after  being  troubled  with 
epileptic  Fits,  died  of  an  Apoplexy  *,  but  when 
the  Head  was  opened  after  death  by  Raw  and 
myfelf,  we  found  Exoftofes  or  bony  Tumors  pro- 
tuberating  within  the  Cavity  of  the  Cranium,  from 
whence  the  Spirits  mull  of  Neceflity  have  been 
fubjecled  to  Irritations,  irregular  Motions,  and  at 
length  an  Apoplexy  itfelf  was  unavoidable.  Won- 
derful Apoplexies  of  this  kind  fometimes  happen 
in  the  Venereal  Difeafe,  from  an  Exoftofis  or  bony 
Tumor  of  the  internal  Table  of  tne  Skull  com- 
prefllng  the  Brain. 

4  Drel  ncourt  in  his  anatomical  Experiments  upon 
Dogs,  demonftrates  that  if  one  of  the  carotid  Ar- 
teries be  comprerTed  by  a  Ligature,  the  Animal 
becomes  feeble  of  a  fudden,  and  lofes  all  its 
Strength ;  that  if  both  the  carotid  Arteries  are  tied, 
he  begins  to  fnoar  as  in  an  Apoplexy,  with  which 
the  Dog  falls  down  upon  tying  one  of  the  vertebral 

1  Arteries ; 


§.  86 1 .  7he  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  i  o  i 

Arteries  ;  and  if  both  the  vertebral  Arteries  are 
tied  as  well  as  the  Carotids,  the  Dog  expires. 
Hence  it  is  not  difficult  to  conquer  the  mod  fierce 
Maftiff,  or  even  the  Lion,  provided  you  imme- 
diately grafp  his  Neck,  and  compreis  the  carotid 
Arteries  when  he  firft  approaches  •,  for  by  that 
means  the  Bead  immediately  lofes  all  his  Strength. 

5  If  you  make  a  Ligature  upon  the  external 
jugular  Vein  of  a  Dog,  according  to  the  Obferva- 
tion  of  Drelincourt,  the  Animal  will  immediately 
appear  difordered  ;  and  if  the  other  Jugular  be 
tied,  the  Dog  will  be  Tick,  fnoar,  fwelled,  and  red 
in  the  Face,  drivelling  at  the  Mouth,  and  will  at 
length  be  fuffocated,  becaufe  the  vend  Blood  is 
prevented  from  flowing  back  from  the  Brain, 
while  the  arterial  Blood  continues  to  afcend  freely 
to  the  Head  by  the  carotid  Arteries.  This  is 
the  kind  of  Apoplexy  of  which  thofe  die  who  are 
hanged. 

6  I  faw  an  Apoplexy  from  this  Caufe,  in  a  Lad 
born  of  a  Woman  far  advanced  in  Years  but  by 
applying  Spirit  of  Sal  Ammoniacum  to  his  Nofe 
to  excite  the  Brain  to  a  ftronger  Motion,  the  Dif- 
order  vanifhed. 

§.  86 1.  A  Palfy  1  is  an  Inability  of  moving 
the  Mufcles  which  are  relaxed ;  and  the  Caufe 
is  an  Obftrudtion  of  the  Influx  of  Spirits  into 
the  Fibres  of  the  Mufcles,  or  of  arterial  Blood 
into  the  VefTels,  through  fome  Defeft,  either 
of  the  Brain,  Nerves,  Mufcles  themfelves,  or 
their  Arteries. 

A  Paraplegia  *  is  an  Immobility  of  all  the 
Mufcles  below  the  Head,  which  receive  all 
their  Nerves  from  the  Brain  and  Cerebellum 
H  3  paffing 


102  'The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  861. 

pafling  out  from  below  the  Skull ;  and  there- 
fore the  Caufe  is  generally  feated,  either  at 
the  fourth  Ventricle  of  the  Brain,  or  about 
the  beginning  of  the  fpinal  Medulla. 

An  Hemiplegia  is  the  fame  Difcafe,  only 
reftrained  to  one  Side  of  the  Patient's  Body  j 
whence  the  Caufe  appears  to  be  the  fame, 
only  acting  upon  one  Side  of  the  Brain  and 
fpinal  Medulla. 

From  hence  we  may  be  able  to  underftand 
the  Nature  of  aPalfy  in  any  particular  Mufcle 
or  mufcular  Part  \  And  we  may  likewife 
perceive  why  an  Apoplexy  is  always  accom- 
panied with  a  Paraplegia,  or  at  leaft  with  a 
violent  Hemiplegia.  And  why  after  the  Apo- 
plexy is  removed,  one  or  other  of  thefe  laft 
almoft  conftantly  fucceeds  and  continues  a 
long  time. 

1  A  Palfy  is  an  Impotency  to  Motion  in  the 
Mufcles,  with  a  Flaccidity  of  their  Parts. 

*  A  Paraplegia  is  an  Apoplexy  feated  in  the 
fpinal  Medulla,  in  which  all  the  Parts  are  relaxed 
which  receive  Nerves  from  the  whole,  or  one  half 
of  the  fame  Medulla. 

?  The  Caufe  of  which  is  always  either  in  the 
Artery,  in  the  Nerve,  or  in  that  Part  of  the  Brain 
from  whence  the  Nerve  arifes.  But  this  never 
takes  place  in  the  Heart,  for  there  it  muft  be  in- 
flant  Death  though  I  fufpecl  this  to  be  the  Caufe 
of  the  mod  fudden  Death  which  often  happens  in 
the  mofl  malignant  or  acute  Peftilence.  Concern- 
ing this  you  may  read  the  Hiftories  of  the  Plague 
in  London.  But  a  Palfy  of  the  Mufcles,  fub- 
fcrvient  to  voluntary  Motion,  is  a  chronical  Dif- 

order, 


§.  862.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  103 

order,  which  may  be  fuftained  for  a  long  time, 
Life  yet  remaining. 

§.  862.  The  Epilepfy  \  or  falling 1  Sicknefs, 
js  a  fudden  and  entire  Abolition  of  all  the  ex- 
ternal and  internal  Senfes  and  voluntary  Mo- 
tions, accompanied  with  a  violent  and  recipro- 
cal1 Convulfion  or  Contraction  and  Relaxation 
of  the  Mufcles :  Hence  there  feems  to  be  two 
Caufes  concurring  in  this  Diforder,  and  in  a 
Manner  oppofite  to  each  other,  being  partly 
an  Apoplexy,  and  partly  a  Coma  Vigil,  acting 
alternately  from  their  respective  Caufes,  (§.856, 
858,  860),  but  not  fo  violent,  nor  of  fo  long 
a  Continuance,  as  they  are  there  defcribed. 

1  An  Epilepfy  is  a  fudden  Abolition  of  the  ani- 
mal Actions,  with  a  violent  convulfive  Motion 
of  all  the  Mufcles. 

*  But  in  the  Beginning  pf  the  Paroxyfm,  the 
Patient  runs  for  fome  time  in  a  Circle,  or  con- 
tinues moving  (trait  forward,  without  Snowing  or 
remembring  what  is  done  but  fo  foon  as  the 
Diforder  is  come  to  its  Height,  they  always  tumble 
down  upon  the  Ground. 

3  The  proximate  Caufe  of  an  Epilepfy,  is  fuch 
a  Condition  of  the  Brain,  as  clofes  up  thofe  Parts 
appertaining  to  the  Senfes ;  while  the  other  Parts 
appertaining  to  the  voluntary  Motions,  not  only 
remain  pervious,  but  tranfmit  alfo  the  Spirits  more 
fwiftly  and  copioufly  to  the  refpecYive  Mufcles. 
Hence,  when  an  Epilepfy  abates,  it  always  turns 
to  an  Apoplexy  •,  namely,  into  a  moft  profound 
Sleep,  from  whence  the  Patient  cannot  be  awaked; 
but  when  this  Diforder  goes  off  fpontaneoufly,  the 
H  4  Senfe 


104  He  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §-863. 

Senfe  and  Reafon  do  not  return  all  at  once,  but 
(lowly  and  by  Degrees. 

§.  863.  A  Vertigo  1  is  a  feeming  Rotation 
of  Objects,  accompanied  with  a  Feeblenefs, 
or  ftaggering  Motion  of  the  Limbs ;  and  the 
Caufes  are  the  fame  as  in  an  Apoplexy,  only 
more  flight. 

1  This,  when  accompanied  with  Darknefs,  is 
termed  Scotoma,  which  is  ftill  worfe  otherwife, 
when  it  is  without  Darknefs,  and  the  Limbs  only 
tremble,  fo  that  they  cannot  fuftain  the  Body, 
the  Patient,  in  that  Cafe,  lays  hold  of  fomething 
to  fupport  himfelf,  while  every  Thing  feems  to 
turn  round.  There  is  ftill  a  worfe  Degree  of  this 
]aft  kind  of  Vertigo,  in  which  the  Patient  fees  the 
various  Colours  of  the  Rainbow.  The  Caufe  of 
this  Phenomenon,  is  indeed  fomething  wonderful ; 
as  for  Inftance,  when  Children  turn  their  Body 
round  fwiftly  in  a  Circle,  they  lofe  their  Senfes, 
and  fall  down  like  one  apoplectic,  if  they  continue 
to  turn  in  that  Manner  for  a  long  time.  But  if 
the  Eyes  are  fhut  in  the  mean  time,  the  fame 
turning  round  of  the  Body  does  not  caufe  a  Ver- 
tigo for  blind  Horfes  are  not  at  all  affected  in 
turning  round  Mills.  Some  People  cannot  behold 
a  Torch  whirled  fwiftly  round,  without  falling 
into  a  Vertigo ;  and  moft  People  again,  are  apt 
to  be  giddy,  if  they  look  down  from  a  high  Place. 
I  myfelf  was  once  fo  giddy  after  eating  Hemlock, 
that  every  thing  feemed  to  run  round  very  fwiftly, 
fo  that  I  could  not  ftand  \  but  after  taking  a  Vo- 
mit, the  Diforder  vanifhed.  But  the  fame  Dis- 
order happened  to  a  flout  Gardener,  only  from 
Cubing  up  this  Plant.    The  like  EfTecl  alfo  has 


§.864«  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  105 

the  Cicuta  Aquatica  of  Gefner  ;  and  even  Wine, 
or  the  Crapula  of  Yefterday,  will  produce  a  Ver- 
tigo alfo ;  whence  it  appears,  that  a  Vertigo  is 
frequently  a  Diforder  of  the  Stomach. 

§.  864.  A  Spafmus  \  or  Convulfion,  is  a 
violent  and  involuntary  Contraction  of  a  Muf- 
cle,  with  a  Motion  of  the  Parts  to  which 
the  Mufcles  are  connected  ;  the  Caufe  thereof 
is  the  nervous  Juice  ftrongly  and  continually 
urged  into  the  Mufcle,  which  may  again  pro- 
ceed from  an  infinite  Number  of  other  Caufes, 
refiding  in  the  Blood,  Arteries,  Meninges, 
Brain,  Nerves,  Mufcles,  or  Skull. 

A  Tetanos  %  is  a  violent  and  involuntary 
Convulfion,  accompanied  with  a  Rigidity,  or 
Stiffhefs  of  the  Mufcles  deftined  to  bend  and 
extend  any  Part,  which  may  be  therefore 
univerfal\  throughout  all  the  Mufcles,  or 
only  in  the  Mufcles  of  fome  particular  Mem- 
ber \ 

Emprofthotonos  *,  is  a  Spafm,  or  Convulfion 
of  the  Mufcles  of  the  Head,  Neck,  Thorax, 
and  Loins,  bending  the  Body  forward. 

Opijlhotonos6 ,  is  a  Convulfion  of  the  Muf- 
cles in  the  Head,  Neck,  and  Back,  inclining 
the  Body  backward  :  but  it  is  evident  enough 
to  one  who  confiders,  that  the  Caufe  of  thefe 
laft,  is  one  and  the  fame  with  that  of  Con- 
vulfions,  only  more  univerfal  or  general,  and 
almoft  conftantly  fome  very  fubtle,  acrimo- 
nious, or  poifonous  Matter. 


That 


106  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.864. 

1  That  is,  the  Determination  of  the  Faculty  of 
mufcular  Motion,  to  contract  one  Mufcle  more 
than  another,  without  the  Inclination  of  the  Mind, 
in  fuch  a  Manner,  as  to  violently  draw  the  Part 
into  which  the  Mufcles  are  inferted.  To  this  Dis- 
order, very  tender  hyfterical  Women  are  more  efpe- 
daily  liable,  even  from  the  flighted  Caufe  ;  but 
the  Spirits  return  to  their  Equilibrium,  if  the 
Nerves  are  affected  by  fomething  more  violent 
than  the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe,  fuch  as  Fcetids,  or 
Spirit  of  Sal  Ammoniacum  applied  to  the  Nofe. 

2  A  Tetanos  is  a  mod  violent  Cramp  or  (tiff 
Contraction  of  a  Mufcle,  fo  as  to  render  the  Part 
immoveable  ;  but  fometimes  alfo  the  antagonist 
Mufcles  are  contracted,  as  well  the  Extenfors,  as 
the  Flexors.  I  have  obferved  this  Diforder  in  the 
temporal  Mufcle,  which  has  felt  harder  than  a 
Board.  It  may  be  alfo  frequently  obferved  in  the 
gaftrocnemii  and  folei  Mufcles  which  compofe  the 
Calf  of  the  Leg,  as  aLo  in  the  Abductor  of  the 
great  Toe,  at  which  time  the  Mufcles  feel  hard 
and  contracted,  like  a  Piece  of  Wood  or  Iron. 
The  Caufe  of  this  Diforder,  which  was  well 
known  to  Hippocrates,  is  more  violent  than  that 
of  a  Convulfion. 

3  If  the  Caufe  refides  in  the  Brain,  it  will  be 
univerfal.  This  more  rarely  happens  among  us 
Europeans,  but  is  more  frequent  among  the  Greeks, 
more  efpecially  among  the  Mines,  where  Qiiick- 
filver  or  Arfenic  is  dug  up  •,  whence  Paracelfus 
juftly  calls  the  Diforder  metalline.  This  foon 
weakens  and  deftroys  the  Patient. 

4  Which  we  call  the  Cramp,  being  a  painful 
Contraction  of  a  Mufcle,  arifmg  from  a  Diflortion 
of  the  Tendon  out  of  its  proper  Channel.  When 
a  Mufcle  is  diftorted  from  its  proper  place  in  a 
healthy  Perfon,  the  Part  will  be  always  deformed 


§.  $64-  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  107 

and  drawn  afide  otherwife  than  in  Health.  To 
this  Diforder  is  related  a  Luxation  of  the  lower 
Jaw,  when  in  yawning  the  Jaw  is  drawn  down  fo 
low,  as  to  throw  out  its  condyloide  Procefles  from 
their  proper  Cavities ;  and  in  that  Cafe  the  coro- 
noide  Proceffes  do  by  their  Sharpncis  prick  the 
Mufcles,  whence  they  are  miierably  convulfed. 
This  Diforder  is  cured  neither  by  prelling  the  Jaw 
upward,  nor  to  either  Side,  but  downward  and 
forward,  drawing  it  afterwards  up.  I  have  feen 
fome  who  have  labour'd  whole  Days  in  endeavour- 
ing to  reduce  the  lower  Jaw. 

5  Emprofthotonos  is  when  the  whole  Body  is 
fo  contracted  forward,  that  the  Head  and  Feet 
approach  together,  and  the  whole  Body  is  bent 
almoft  into  a  Circle.  This  is  a  Cramp  of  the  flex- 
or Mufcles  of  the  Head,  Neck,  Thorax  and 
Loins.  It  fometimes  proceeds  from  eating  the 
Cicuta  Aquatica  of  Gefner,  as  alfo  from  metalline 
Vapours. 

6  Opjfthotonos  is  when  the  extenfor  Mufcles  6f 
the  Neck,  Back  and  Loins,  together  with  the 
Flexor  of  the  Thighs  and  Legs,  are  all  convul- 
fed at  the  fame  time  ;  the  Head  being  likewife 
bent  back  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  almoft  to  touch 
the  Heels.  Thefe  Diforders  kill  the  Patient  in  the 
fpace  of  twenty-four  Hours,  and  leave  the  Body  of 
a  blacker  Colour  than  an  Ethiopian-,  and  then  the 
ignorant  common  People  afcribe  the  Patient's 
Death  either  to  Poifon,  Enchantments,  or  to  the 
Devil  himfelf.    But  the  true  Reafon  of  this  Ap- 
pearance is  as  follows  :  A  Mufcle  when  contracted 
repels  the  arterial  Blood,  which  is  thus  refufed  Ad- 
mittance, while  the  venal  Blood  is  at  the  fame 
time  expelled  forward  toward  the  Heart  ;  which 
being  thus  fupplied,  continues  to  protrude  the 
Blood  into  the  Arteries,  which  not  being  able  to 

empty 


io8  77)e  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  867. 

empty  themfelves  into  the  Mufcles,  are  diftended 
to  fuch  a  degree,  that  they  at  laft  force  the  Blood 
into  the  pellucid  Arteries  and  Cells  of  the  Pannicu- 
lus  adipofus,  where  there  is  the  leaft  Refiftance ; 
and  then  the  more  fluid  Parts  being  diffipated,  the 
reft  of  the  Blood  becomes  very  black  under  the 
Skin,  and  makes  the  whole  Body  appear  of  the 
fame  Colour,  as  if  it  was  black  and  blue  by  beat- 
ing. I  faw  this  Diforder  in  the  Son  of  a  neighbour- 
ing Baker,  to  whofe  Body  I  was  called,  that  I 
might  be  a  Witnefs  to  the  Poifon  which  was  given ; 
and  in  this  Subject  the  Mufcles  were  extremely 
rigid  even  after  Death. 

§.  865.  From  hence  it  is  fufficiently  evi- 
dent, why  a  Vertigo  or  Convullions,  efpecial- 
ly  univerfal,  with  the  Epilepfy  or  a  Palfy, 
efpecially  when  great  or  ftubborn,  and  from 
an  internal  Caufe,  almoft  conftantly  termi- 
nate in  an  Apoplexy. 

$ 

§.  866.  Diforders  of  the  Excreta  and  Re- 
tenta  have  been  already  explained,  in  treating 
of  the  Caufes  of  Difeafes  (§.  772  to  779), 
from  whence  thefe  and  their  Caufes  may  be 
underftood;  and  to  thefe  may  be  referred 
Worms,  Stones,  and  other  unufual  Bodies  of 
the  like  kind. 

§.  867.  The  Quality  1  of  any  Part  of  the 
Body  is  faid  to  be  vitiated  or  depraved,  when 
its  Di'poiition  is  injured  as  to  Senfe  ;  but  this 
chiefly  relates  either  to  the  Colour  or  Smell. 

■  Thus  we  call  every  corporeal  Appearance, 
which  wc  percievc  by  the  external  Senfes. 

§.  868. 


§.  868.  77)e  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  109 

§.  868.  A  pale,  yellow,  green,  livid  or  red 
Colour  1  of  the  Skin,  Cuticle,  Tunica  adnata 
of  the  Eye,  Tunica  Cornea,  Lips,  Mouth, 
Tongue,  Fauces,  Caruncles  of  the  Eyes,  pro- 
ceeds from  the  like  Humours  or  Bodies  feen 
through  the  pellucid  Vejfeh  * ;  and  according 
as  thefe  Humours  are  lodged  in  VefTels  of  dif- 
ferent Series,  they  are  to  be  referred  to  differ- 
ent Caufes,  as  is  evident  in  an  Inflammation, 
Gangrene,  Sphacelus,  &c. 

1  A  pale  Colour  fignifies  a  watry  Cacochymia; 
fo  that  from  this  Inflection  of  the  Eyes,  the  whole 
Hiftory  of  a  Difeafe  may  be  foretold.  For  if  you 
fee  the  red  Blood  deficient,  you  may  certainly 
pronounce  that  the  Patient  is  affli&ed  with  all 
the  confequent  Diforders  ;  that  is,  you  may  fafely 
tell  the  Patient,  that  he  is  fubjedt  to  a  Palpitation 
of  the  Heart  after  any  little  Exercife  or  Motion  of 
the  Body,  GV. 

A  yellow  Colour  denoting  an  Obftruc"tion  of 
the  Liver,  will  confequently  be  attended  with 
Anxieties  in  the  Hypochondria,  white  Faeces, 
Urine  tinging  things  of  a  fafFron  Colour,  &c. 
A  green  Colour  denotes  ftill  a  greater  Depravity 
of  the  Bile,  being  either  extremely  redundant  in 
the  Blood,  or  vitiated  with  acid  Crudities.  And 
thus  you  may,  like  a  Conjurer,  tell  the  Patient  of 
his  Complaints  only  by  looking  in  his  Face, 
which  will  feem  aftonifhing  to  the  ignorant  com- 
mon People. 

A  red  Colour  denotes  an  abundance  of  Blood, 
and  an  inflammatory  Difpofition,  with  Pains  in 
the  Head,  and  a  thong  Pulle.  But  the  Phyfician 
may  alio  learn  much  from  the  fuccefllve  Changes 

to 


no  "the  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  869, 

to  be  obferved  in  thefe  Parts  ;  and  therefore  he 
ought  never  to  depart  from  a  Patient  afflicted  with 
an  acute  Difeafe,  without  having  firft  infpected  his 
Eyes,  Lips  and  Tongue,  which  afford  the  moft 
evident  Diagnofis  of  the  Difeafe.  Dealers  in 
Cattle  are  always  fure,  by  examining  thefe  Parts, 
when  they  buy  Oxen  or  Sheep,  not  to  be  impofed 
upon  with  fuch  as  are  difeafed  ;  for  by  infpecting 
the  Eye,  they  can  foon  tell  whether  the  Animal 
be  fick  or  in  Health  •,  and  it  is  probable,  that  the 
fame  Marks  are  ufed  by  thofe  who  deal  in  Slaves, 
namely,  by  the  Eyes  and  Lips  among  other  Parts, 
theyjudge  whether  they  are  found  or  healthy,  and 
fit  for  their  deugned  Labour. 

1  Becaufe  here  the  Humours  may  be  feen  through 
the  pellucid  VefTels  by  a  Microfcope.  But  there 
are  few  Parts  of  the  Body  which  allow  of  this  ; 
for  only  the  Lips,  Tongue,  Eyes  and  their  Lids, 
are  not  cover'd  with  the  Skin.  I  myfelf  have- 
oft- n  obferved  the  Humours  moving  in  the  pellu- 
cid VefTels  of  the  Eye  in  a  healthy  Perfon  oppofed 
to  the  Light,  and  have  been  thence  able  zo  judge 
concerning  the  Nature  and  Circulation  of  the 
Blood  and  its  Serum. 

§.  869.  A  Palenefs,  Rednefs,  yellow,  brown 
or  black  Colour  of  the  Bones  \  arifes  from  a 
Com  ufion,  Inflammation,  Abfcefs,  Difeafe  of 
the  Medulla,  Lofs  of  the  Periofteum,  a  Caries 
or  Spina  ventofa. 

1  A  Bone  which  has  been  lately  expofed  to  View 
by  fome  Accident,  appears  of  a  femi-pellucid  and 
reddifh  blue  Colour,  almoft  like  the  Appearance 
of  the  Nails  of  the  Fingers.  If  it  appears  white 
or  pale,  it  is  a  Sign  the  Blood  now  ceafes  to  circu- 
3  latc 


§.870.  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  ill 

late  through  the  Bone,  in  the  fame  manner  as  the 
Nails  looking  pale  prefage  the  Paroxyfm  of  a  Fe- 
ver, or  an  approaching  Syncope.  But  the  Bones 
are  in  no  part  uncover'd  in  a  healthy  Perfon,  and 
therefore  the  Teeth  are  to  be  examin'd  which  are 
not  cover'd  with  the  Perioftseum  for  when  the 
Teeth  appear  yellow  in  the  Scurvy  or  Rickets,  in 
a  little  time  the  fame  Diforder  will  take  place  in 
the  Bones.  As  to  Diforders  of  the  Teeth  them- 
felves,  independent  on  the  State  of  the  Humours 
in  the  grinding  Teeth,  they  generally  arife  from 
within,  from  the  putrid  Flefh  or  other  Aliments 
corrupting  betwixt  their  roots,  and  eating  Cavi- 
ties into  them.  But  in  the  incifive  and  canine 
Teeth,  the  Diforders  are  for  the  moft  part  exter- 
nal, and  proceed  more  efpecially  from  a  tartarous 
or  ftony  Matter  difcharged  by  the  VefTels  of  the 
Gums  and  Perioftaeum  of  the  Teeth  ;  which  ftony 
Matter  ought  carefully  to  be  cleanfed  from  the 
Teeth,  that  they  may  neither  be  corrupted,  nor 
loofen'd  fo  as  to  fall  out. 

§.  R70.  A  Jltnking  Smell*  always  arifes  from 
the  Humours  flagnating,  extravafated,  or  cor- 
rupting, or  in  fome  manner  infedted  ;  as  alfo 
from  all  Caufes  which  too  much  attenuate  and 
volatilize  the  oily  and  faline  Parts  of  the  Hu- 
mour^ fuch  as  Failing,  Heat,  violent  Motion, 
Food  too  acrimonious,  &c.z 

1  There  are  properly  no  (linking  Smells  in  any 
Part  of  the  healthy  Body,  except  only  the  Fseces 
of  the  large  Interlines  ;  for  the  Urine  is  little  or 
nothing  foetid  5  and  from  the  Interlines  it  is,  that 
upon  opening  the  Abdomen  of  a  living  Animal, 
there  is  a  difagreeable  or  ill  fmelling  Vapour  per* 

ceived  j 


H2  The  Symptoms  of  Difeafes.  §.  870. 

ceived  but  in  the  Thorax  this  Vapour  fmells  lefs 
difagreeable,  and  in  the  Cranium  it  has  little  or  no 
Smell.  When  therefore  a  foetid  Smell  is  obferved 
in  any  Part  of  the  Body,  it  is  a  fure  Sign  that  the, 
Humours  degenerate,  that  their  Salts  turn  alcaline, 
and  that  their  oily  Parts  incline  to  Rancidity.  If 
fuch  a  Smell  proceeds  from  the  Mouth,  it  arifes 
either  from  the  Sordes  there  collected  for  want  of 
warning  the  Mouth,  or  elfe  it  afcends  from  the 
Lungs,  or  from  the  Stomach.  When  it  is  in  the 
Lungs,  riding  on  Horfeback  is  the  principal  Reme- 
dy •,  when  from  the  Stomach,  the  Spaw  Waters  5 
and  when  from  the  Mouth,  Spring- water  with  a 
tenth  Part  of  Wine,  and  an  eighth  of  common 
Salt,  may  be  ufed  for  a  Wafh. 

a  Animals  which  live  only  upon  Vegetables, 
have  the  Faeces  of  their  Interlines  free  from  a  (link- 
ing $mell.  A  Perfon  who  feeds  only  upon  Bread 
and  Water,  will  difcharge  Fasces  fmelling  but  very 
little ;  but  they  will  be  extremely  foetid,  if  he 
lives  upon  much  Flefh,  Eggs,  Fifh,  and  the 
like.  Thofe  who  have  complained  to  me  of  the 
intolerable  Smell  of  the  Faeces,  have  been  ufually 
relieved  by  the  Ufe  of  mineral  Waters,  Acids, 
and  faked  Aliments ;  and  when  the  Colour  of  the 
Faeces  is  fomewhat  more  yellow  than  that  of  Straw, 
it  may  fafely  be  relied  upon  as  a  good  Sign.  When 
the  Breath  and  Faeces  are  extremely  foetid  in  a  pul- 
monary Confumption,  I  order  the  Patient  to  ab- 
llain  from  all  Flefh,  and  to  ufe  Plenty  of  Lemon- 
Juice.  And  the  fame  Method  is  to  be  taken  when 
the  Urine  is  more  t^han  ordinary  foetid,  fo  as  to  be 
offenfive  to  the  Patient.  The  fame  Rule  is  like- 
wife  to  be  obferved  by  dropfical  Patients,  who 
may  eat  Flefh  as  long  as  their  Faeces  are  not  over 
foetid  ;  but  when  they  are  fenfible  of  that  Altera- 
tion, they  ought  to  abftain  from  Flefh,  and  have 
recourfe  to  Acids.  Semeiotjca 


§.  87r. 


Semeiotica,  or  of  Signs  general. 

§  871.  QINCE  a  Difeafe  is  an  Effect  re- 
^3  fultingfrom  its  Caufe,  it  is  there- 
fore a  particular  Entity  1  diftindt  from  all 
others,  and  ought  therefore' to  be  accurately 
known  or  underftood,  according  to  its  pecu- 
liar and  individual  Nature,  in  order  that  it 
may  be  cured1.  The  fame  is  alfo  to  be  un- 
derftood of  Health  and  its  various.  States. 

1  Every  Difeafe  is  a  diftindt,  phyfical,  and  cre- 
ated Entity  or  Being,  fo  as  to  be  diftinguifhable 
like  a  Plant  or  animal  from  all  other  Beings  by 
its  proper  Signs  or  characleriftic  Marks.  This 
Branch  of  Phyfic  derives  its  Name  from  awetov, 
a  Sign,  which  is  derived  from  the  Hebrew  Word 
Sent,  of  the  fame  Import. — A  Sign  in  Phyfic  is 
termed  an  Appearance  perceptible  to  the  Senfes, 
from  whence  the  Phyfician  difcovers  fomething 
different  from  the  Sign  itfelf,  and  which  he  could 
only  difcover  by  its  Appearance ;  as,  for  Example, 
a  Quartan  is  known  from  its  external  Appearances, 
Laffitude,  &c.  Signs  are  taken  as  well  from  the 
paft  as  the  prefent  Appearances  in  the  Patient ; 
and  from  thence  we  are  enabled  to  underftand  both 
the  prefent  and  future  Diforders  and  their  Confe- 
quences  ;  for  the  Phyfician  not  only  underftands 
the  prefent  Condition  of  the  Body,  but  alfo  its 
Powers.  When  by  Signs  I  know  a  Perfon  to  be 
I  plethoric, 


i  t  4      Of  Signs  in  general.    §.  8  7  r . 

plethoric,  and  from  the  Principles  of  natural  Phi- 
lofophy,  forefee  that  the  next  Day  will  be  very 
hot,  and  that  from  Politics  this  Perfon  will  be 
drawn-in  to  drink  great  Plenty  of  Wine  on  the 
lame  Day  \  from  theie  and  other  Signs,  I  may 
fafely  prognosticate  that  this  Perfon  will  at  that 
time  be  in  great  Danger  of  an  Apoplexy.  This 
Branch  of  Phyfic,  more  than  any  other,  was  cul- 
tivated by  Hippocrates,  and  hence  it  was  that  he 
acquired  the  Name  of  Divine.    In  this  refpect, 
Hippocrates  has  been  followed  by  all  the  Greek 
Phyficians,  whofe  Writings  are  now  extant,  tor 
at  leaft  four  Parts  out  of  five  in  all  their  Books  are 
employed  in  treating  upon  Signs,  and  in  drawing 
Con fequences  from  thence;  becaufe  fuch  a  Sign 
will  be  attended  with  fuch  a  Change  •,  and  therefore 
fuch  a  particular  kind  of  Remedy  ought  to  beufed, 
Hippocrates  has  indeed  confideredDifeafe  as  an  un- 
known Entity-,  but  God  has  furnifhed  us  with 
Organs  capable  of  diftinguifhing  the  Appearances^ 
whereby  we  may  know  ail  Difeafes,  it  we  rightly 
attend  to  their  Symptoms  ;  for  a  Symptom  is  part 
of  the  Difeafe,  and  all  the  Symptoms  together 
make  up  the  whole  Difeafe  •,  hence  therefore  the 
Phyfic  ian  will  have  performed  all  that  is  in  human 
Power   when  from  confidering  the  Symptoms  and 
their  Effects  before  obferved,  he  draws  Conclufions 
with  refpe'f  to  the  prefent  and  future  State  ot  the 
Difeafe.    It  was  the  Opinion  ot  Sydenham,  that 
Hippocrates  ought  to  be  followed,  and  that  from 
confidering  all  the  Signs,  a  Phyfician  may  per* 
feftly  know  what  ought  to  be  done  ;  he  was  like- 
wile  perfuaded  that  all  Difeafes  when  known  nvght 
be  eafily  cured,  either  by  afliftin^;  or  reftraining 
Nature.    In  this  refpecl  I  cannot  help  pitying 
thofe  Phyficians,  who  feeing  my  nt-w  Edition  of 
Pro/per  rftpims  de  prafagienaa  vJa  &  morte.  ro- 

nounced 


§.873-    Of  Signs  in  general.  115 

nounced  with  Contempt,  "  What  is  it  Boerhaave 
"  defigns  in  this  Book  which  he  has  publimed, 
"  for  it  contains  nothing  more  than  Semiotics." 
Certain  it  is  that  the  Intereft  of  a  Phyfician  lies  in 
no  Part  of  Phyfic  more  than  in  this  ;  fince  from 
hence  he  may  be  able  not  only  to  difcover  what 
the  Difeafe  is,  from  what  Caufe  it  proceeds,  in 
what  Part  or  in  what  Humours  it  refides,  with 
the  manner  in  which  it  affects  the  Patient,  but  alfo 
he  is  hereby  directed  to  the  mod  rational  Methods 
of  treating  or  removing  the  fame. 

*It  is  neceflary  for  us  to  be  acquainted  with 
diftinct  Signs,  by  which  we  may  be  capable  of 
knowing  one  Difeafe  from  another  in  the  fame 
manner  as  we  diftinguifh  Gems  from  each  other 
by  their  particular  Marks. 

§.  872.  But  the  prefent  Nature  either  of 
Health  or  Difeafe  feldom  appears  of  itfelf  to 
the  Senfes,  and  therefore  cannot  by  itfelf  be 
accurately  known ;  yet  are  we  capable  of 
knowing  when  thefe  are  prefent  in  the  Body, 
and  this  even  though  the  Reafon  or  Caufes  of 
both  often  lie  concealed  from  us. 

x  In  an  Apoplexy  we  fee  nothing  of  the  Blood 
extravafated  and  comprefling  the  Brain  *,  nor  are 
the  Caufes  of  perfect  Health  to  be  known  but  by 
Anatomy.  In  Difeafes  therefore  (except  Wounds, 
t£c.)  the  Patient  knows  not  what  his  Diforder  is, 
but  by  the  external  Appearances  which  flow  from 
thence. 

§.  873.  But  when  either  Health  or  Difeafe 
are  prefent,  we  obferve  certain  Ejfefts  \  pro- 
ceedincr  either  from  the  Exercife  of  the  healthy 
I  2  Functions, 


1 1 6      Of  Signs  in  general    §.  874. 

Functions,  or  from  the  Diforder  of  them ; 
thefe  Effects  are  indeed  diftindt  from  their 
Caufes,  yet  are  they  fo  related  and  linked  to- 
gether, that  the  Effects  or  Symptoms  mani- 
feft  the  Nature  of  their  Caufes,  the  Difeafes 
themfelves  j  and  as  thefe  Effects  are  evident  to 
the  Senfes,  they  therefore  afford  great  light 
towards  difcovering  Health  or  Difeafe  in  itfelf. 

1  Both  Health  and  Difeafe  are  active  Beings. 
In  a  healthy  Perfon  there  are  certain  Motions  and 
Actions  performed,  which  are  either  altered  or 
abolilhed  in  Difeafe  or  Death.  Health  is  known 
from  the  Actions  which  follow  from  a  healthy 
State  of  the  Parts,  as  Difeafe  is  known  from  thofe 
Appearances  which  deviate  from  the  Signs  of 
Health. 

§.  874.  But  befides  this,  a  Knowledge  of  the 
Application  of  the  known  Caufe  to  any  Part 
of  the  Body,  which  has  been  already  under- 
ftood  from  Phyfwlogy  \  teaches  the  Nature 
and  Effects  following  from  the  fame  Caufe, 
and  whether  it  will  be  falutary  or  pernicious ; 
nor  does  it  much  iignify  in  this  refpedl,  whe- 
ther the  Caufe  in  the  Body  be  external,  inter- 
nal, natural,  accidental,  falutary,  morbid,  or 
fatal. 

1  From  Phyfiology  you  are  acquainted  with  the 
Nature  of  the  foft  Puip  of  the  Brain,  and  know 
the  Ufes  or  Effects  depending  upon  this  Part ; 
if  now  you  hear  that  a  violent  Blow  is  inflicted 
with  a  Hammer,  upon  that  Part  of  the  Skull  which 
contains  the  Brain,  you  thence  readily  conclude 

that 


§.  8 75*    Of  Sign*  in  general.      1 1 7 

that  the  Perfon  muft  become  apoplectic,  and  this 
you  may  as  certainly  forefee,  as  if  the  Patient  was 
prefent  in  an  Apoplexy  before  your  Eyes.  But  if 
the  fame  Hammer  exerted  its  Force  upon  the  Arm, 
it  is  certain  that  it  would  not  produce  the  fame 
Effect ;  and  therefore  it  is  evident  that  the  Part 
injured,  as  well  as  the  injurious  Caufe,  ought  to 
be  well  known. 

§.  875.  Now  the  Effeds  before-mention'd. 
(§•  ^73-)  anc^  their  Caufes  (§.874.)  are  term- 
ed Appearances  \  fo  far  as  they  are  fenfible  in 
themlelves,  or  may  be  immediately  deduced 
from  Senfe;  but  when  thefe  Appearances, 
difcover'd  by  Senfe,  point  out  by  the  Laws  of 
juft  Reafoning  the  Nature,  Prefence,  Condi- 
tion, or  Events. 1  either  of  Health,  Difeafe, 
or  Death,  they  are  then  ufually  termed  Signs. 

1  Phenomena  or  Appearances  are  thofe  Changes 
which  happen  in  the  human  Body,  capable  of  be- 
ing perceived  by  the  Senfes,  and  of  being  under- 
ftood  by  the  Mind  ;  but  thefe  Signs  are  taken  as 
well  from  the  things  which  are  without,  as  within 
the  Patient,  including  fuch  things^s  are  applied; 
and  they  belong  either  to  Health,  Difeafe,  or 
Death. 

z  How  exact  the  Phyfician  ought  to  be  in  thefe 
Refpects,  may  appear  inafmuch  as  the  Fate  of  a 
whole  Kingdom  may  depend  upon  what  he  de- 
clares ;  as,  for  Example,  when  he  is  to  anfwer 
whether  the  Fcetus  be  alive  in  the  Womb  of  its 
Royal  Mother,  &c. 

§.  876.  Thefe  Signs  are  termed  diagnoftic, 
when  they  denounce  and  point  out  the  prefent 
I  3  Condition 


1 1 8      Of  Signs  in  general.    § .  878, 

Condition  of  the  Body,  whether  alive  and  in 
'Health,  or  difeafed,  or  about  to  die,  or  in  the 
Article  of  Death  ;  but  when  they  import  the 
future  Events  which  are  hereafter  to  happen, 
they  are  then  termed  prbgnoftic  Signs  5  and 
laftly,  when  they  call  back  to  the  Phyfician's 
Mind  fuch  Things  as  have  already  happen'd 
in  time  part,  they  are  then  termed  anamneftic 
or  commemorative  Signs. 

§.  877.  But  in  diftinguifhing  of  Difeafes, 
the  Sign  which  is  proper  to,  and  infeparable 
from  the  Difeafe,  as  arifing  from  its  Nature, 
is  termed  the  Pathognomo?itc  \  or  Charafte- 
riftic  Sign. 

1  And  this  Sign  is  fo  infeparably  appropriated 
to  each  Difeafe,  that  it  agrees  with  no  other  *,  fo 
that  it  ferves  for  difcovering  the  Difeafe,  and  to 
prevent  it  from  being  confounded  with  others.  I 
heartily  wifh  that  every  Difeafe  had  fuch  pathog- 
nomonic Signs  ;  whereas  we  know  hot  of  above 
three  or  four  in  the  whole  Practice  of  Phyfic. 
When  the  aqueous  Humour  of  the  Eye  is  defi- 
cient, a  Collapfjon  of  the  Cornea  is  an  infeparable 
Sign.  In  the  Stone  of  the  Bladder,  the  only  pa- 
thognomonic or  infallible  Sign,  is  the  touching  it 
with  the  Catheter. 

§.  878.  The  Knowledge  of  this  Sign  is 
therefore  extremely  neceffary  and  ufeful,  xho 
often  very  difficult  1  to  be  known  ->  yet  does  it 
always  accompany  the  Diforder,  as  long  as  it 
continues  of  the  fame  Nature  :  but  frequently 
likewife  this  is  compofed  of  many  concurring 
Signs  aggregated 1  together.  It 


§.  879*    Of  Signs  in  general.  119 

1  (t  would  be  happy  for  us  if  every  Difeafe  had 
its  pathognomonic  Sign.  A  Perfon  who  can  de- 
fcribe  all  the  Differences  of  one  Difcafe,  as  for 
Example,  of  Deafnefs,  with  the  proper  and  in- 
ieparable  Signs  of  each,  would  do  more  fervice  to 
Mankind,  than  by  making  all  the  Conquers  of 
Alexander. 

1  To  know  the  pathognomonic  Sign  of  a  Dif- 
cafe, is  to  be  acquainted  with  its  phyfical  Caufe. 
B'.it  this  Caufe  is  hardly  ever  fimple,  and  continu- 
ally affects  not  one  Organ  on!y,  but  feveral  \  and 
therefore  the  pathognomonic  Signs  are  generally 
an  Accumulation  or  Aflemblage  of  other  Signs.  A 
Pleurify  is  an  inflammatory  Pain  of  the  Side  ip- 
creafmg  upon  Infpiration,  and  accompanied  witfi 
a  hard  Pulfe  and  acute  continual  Fever.  ,  A  prick- 
ing Pain  of  the  Side  alone  is  not  the  Sign  of  this 
Diforder,  for  that  has  been  known  to  arife  from  a 
Convulfion  or  Cramp  •,  nor  yet  is  a  pricking  Pain 
of  the  Side,  accompanied  with  a  hard  Pulfe,  fuf- 
ficient  to  denominate  it  a  P'eurify,  fince  thefe  Sym- 
ptoms may  arife  from  fome  other  Inflammation ; 
but  an  acute  Fever  muft  neceffariiy  be  added  with 
anlncreafe  of  the  Pa;n  upon  Infpiration.  One  or 
even  feveral  of  thefeSigns  alone  determine  nothing, 
but  altogether  make  it  a  Pleurify. 

§.  879.  But  thofe  Signs  which  teach  us  the 
various  Changes  and  Conditions  of  the  Difeafe 
through  its  feveral  Stages,  are  termed  Epige- 
nomofticj  fuperver.Hig  or  acceiTory  Signs  \ 

1  Thus  under  the  Name  of  a  Pleurify  is  com- 
prehended as  many  Difafes  as  there  are  different 
Stages  of  that  Diforder,  without  at  all  changing 
the  Name.  A  Pleurify  is,  therefore,  i.  An  In- 
flammation refolvable.  2.  It  is  an  Inflammatory 
I  4  Difeafe 


120     Of  Signs  in  general.    §.  8  8 1 . 

Pifeafe  tending  to  Suppuration.  3.  It  is  an  inflam- 
matory Difeafe  fuppurating  or  forming  Matter. 
4.  It  is  an  inflammatory  Difeafe  with  Matter 
already  formed.  5.  It  is  a  Vomica  or  Collection 
of  Matter  in  a  Cift  from  a  preceding  Inflam- 
mation, and  this  Vomica  breaking  becomes  an 
Empyema.  Now  all  thefe  Diforders  comprifed 
under  one  Title  are  very  different  from  each  other, 
and  require  to  be  treated  after  different  Methods ; 
as  for  example,  bleeding  will  be  moft  convenient 
while  the  Inflammation  is  refolvable,  but  in  the 
Suppuration  it  will  be  highly  pernicious,  becaufe  it 
will  make  way  for  the  Matter  to  be  received  into 
the  Blood,  whofe  Texture  will  be  thus  corrupted 
and  dilfolved. 

§.880.  From  what  has  been  faid,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  thefe  acceffory  or  fupervening  Signs 
are  fo  necefiary  towards  a  juft  Knowledge  and 
Cure  of  Difeafes,  that  there  is  hardly  any  one 
thing  can  be  of  greater  Ufe  in  Pra&ice  ;  and 
therefore  the  greateft  Blunders  and  Mifchances 
happen  when  thefe  are  negle&ed. 

§,  83 1.  But  fmce  all  thefe  Signs  following 
are  Effects  produced  by  the  Caule  of  the  Dif- 
eafe, the  Difeafe  itfelf,  and  its  Symptoms, 
which  are  continually  changing,  they  therefore 
denote  the  prefent  Condition  1  of  the  Matter, 
which  firft  produced  the  Diforder  throughout 
the  feveral  Stages,  or  the  State  of  the  Matter 
which  was  produced  by  the  Diforder ;  and 
thefe  States  are  ufually  reduced  to  the  three 
following  Claffes :  1 .  Crudity 2  and  Concoction. 
2,  Termination  in  Health,  Difeafe,  or  Death. 

3.  Sepa- 


§.  8  8 1 .    Of  Signs  in  general.  121 

3.  Separation  and  Excretion  of  the  concocted 
Matter,  which  are  therefore  termed  Critical  \ 

1  In  order  to  be  a  good  Phyfician,  one  ought 
to  make  it  a  rule  never  to  leave  the  Patient,  till 
the  State  of  the  Vifcera  is  perfectly  known.  I 
formerly  never  vifited  a  Patient  without  writing 
down  all  theSigns  and  Symptoms  according  as  they 
occurred,  and  by  this  means  it  is  almoft  incredible 
how  much  I  improved.  11  you  take  this  Method 
through  four  or  five  Dilbrders  of  every  Clafs,  you 
will  ever  after  eafily  diftinguifh  the  like  Difeafts. 

1  Crudity  is  faid  to  be  any  State  in  which  the 
Humours  deviate  from  their  natural  Condition. 
When  the  crude  Matter  is  put  in  Motion,  it  caufes 
a  Fit  or  Difturbance  ;  but  when  concoded,  a 
Crifis. 

3  A  critical  Difcharge  is  either  of  the  Matter  of 
the  Difeafe,  as  of  tenacious  Blood  in  a  Pleurify ; 
from  which  Tenacity  of  the  Blood  the  Difeafe  itfelf 
arofe  namely,  this  Tenacity  joined  with  an  acute 
Fever,  and  Inflammation  or  Obftru&ion  in  the 
Side,  caufes  a  Pleurify.  This  Matter  is  perpetu- 
ally changed  through  the  Courie  of  the  Difeafe, 
and  is  either  refbived  or  more  compacted  ;  or  it 
may  be  a  Matter  produced  after  the  Difeafe  from 
the  fame  Caufe,  or  from  fome  procatarctic  Caufe, 
or  from  both  thofe  Caufes  together ;  as  in  the 
preceding  Inftance  of  a  Pleurify,  in  which  the 
Blood  is  corrupted  by  the  inflammatory  Fever 
which  accompanies  the  Pleurify,  and  is  a  Caufe 
continuing  the  Diforder. 


General 


122 


§.  884 


General  Signs  of  per f eft  Health* 

§.882.  np  HESE  Signs  are  to  be  taken 
\     from  the  A&ions  of  the  Body 
(§.  695.)  being  performed  with  Eafe,  Conve- 
niency,  Pleafure  and  Conftancy. 

Health  admits  of  a  great  Latitude  and  various 
Degrees ;  for  among  a  Hundred  healthy  People, 
one  is  more  fo  than  the  reft,  a  fecond  is  more 
healthy  than  the  third,  &c.  Thus  Hippocrates 
obferves,  that  there  are  near  athoufand  Humours 
predominating  in  People,  watery,  faline,  bitter, 
&c.  and  of  various  Degrees  but  the  Signs  of  the 
moll:  perfect  and  of  thefe  particular  Kinds  of 
Health  are  firft  to  be  confider'd,  that  we  may  be 
better  enabled  to  judge  concerning  Difeafe  ;  for  a 
Rule  may  have  its  Obliquities,  as  well  as  its  right 
Lines. 

§.883.  Of  the  four  preceding  Conditions 
neceffary  to  Health,  the  three  firft  are  eafily 
perceived,  but  the  fourth  is  more  difficult  to 
determine ;  for  the  greateft  Conftancy  of  thefe 
A&ions  can  only  be  known  by  thofe  Signs 
which  indicate  that  the  Perfon  will  be  long- 
liv'd  3  and  therefore  the  Signs  of  Longevity 
generally  denote  likewiie  perfect  Health. 

§.  884.  But  all  thofe  Signs  of  Longevity  1 
have  the  EfTedls  of  fuch  a  Dilpofition  through- 
out 


§.  885.     Signs  of  Health.  123 

out  the  whole  Machine,  but  as  to  Solids  and 
Fluids,  as  principally  difpcied  to  laft  a  long 
time,  with  refpedt  to  the  Dependance  of  the 
feveral  Parts  upon  each  other,  and  theRenewal 
or  Maintenance  of  them  in  the  fame  State  > 
but  this  is  performed  by  a  Reduction  of  the 
Aliments  into  the  fame  Nature  with  that  of 
the  Parts  of  which  the  healthy  Machine  is 
already  compofed. 

1  Longevity  depends,  1.  on  a  good  Conftitu- 
tion  of  Body,  2.  by  refilling  and  overpowering 
every  thing  which  tends  to  deftroy  the  Body. 
For  the  Non-naturals  ought  to  be  changed  into 
Naturals,  and  the  ingefted  Aliments  muft  be  af- 
fimilated  into  vital  Solids  and  Fluids, 

§.  885.  From  the  moft  diligent  and  repeated 
Obfervatiqns 1  in  Europe  \  tnefe  Signs  may 
be  reduced  to  the  following  Gaffes. 

1.  From  the  Generation.  As  being  con- 
ceived by  healthy  and  ftrong  Parents  of  a  full 
Age;  ufing  Venery  feldcm  \  but  with  Vigour, 
and  in  the  Morning  after  the  Concoftion  has 
been  cornpleated  by  Sleep,  and  this  more  ef- 
pecially  in  a  healthy  Sealon,  in  the  Spring*. 

2.  From  the  Geftation  in  the  Uterus.  The 
Mother  being  Sound  and  in  Health,  and  adT 
d\£ledtoExerciJes5  of  Body,  lufficiently  ftrong, 
having  an  eaiy  Mind,  and  nourishing  only 
one6  Foetus  at  a  time  in  the  Womb,  by  feed- 
ing on  a  healthy  Aliment. 

3.  From  the  Birth.  The  Delivery  happen- 
ing after  nine  whole  Months  have  expired 

from 


124'       Signs  of  Health.     §.  885. 

from  the  time  of  Conception,  more  efpecially 
when  this  happens  in  the  Month  of  Decern- 
her  7,  'January^  and  February. 

4.  From  the  Manner  of  Growth  in  the 
Body.  When  it  grows  Jlowly*,  and  very 
equally,  the  Bulk  and  Strength  of  the  Body 
increafing  until,  or  even  after,  the  25th  Year 
of  Age. 

5.  From  the  Make  and  Habit  of  the  Body. 
The  Thorax  being  large  and  broad,  the  Ab- 
domen flender  and  fat,  the  Shoulders,  Arms, 
Thighs,  and  Legs  ftrong,  mufcular,  flefhy, 
and  thick-fet  with  Hair  that  is  ftrong  and 
briftly  ;  a  large  and  capacious  9  Skull,  efpe- 
cially towards  the  Occiput,  but  not  before 
towards  the  Face,  the  Head  feeming  much 
fmaller  than  it  really  is ;  the  Skin  hard,  the 
Bones  well  cloathed  with  Flefh,  and  with  but 
little  Fat.; 

6.  From  the  State  of  the  Humours.  The 
Blood  being  florid,  but  thick IO,  foon  con- 
creting after  Extravafation,  into  a  verv  firm 
and  compact  Mafs ;  the  reft  of  the  Humours 
being  fufficiently  copious,  of  a  firm  Confid- 
ence, moderately  warm,  little  oily,  and  with- 
out Acrimony. 

7.  '  Fr6m  the  A&ions  of  the  Body.  The 
Refpiration  being  flow,  deep,  full,  eafy,  and 
uniform,  or  equal,  with  little  or  no  apparent 
change  11  in  the  refpedlive  Organs;  the  Pulfe 
of  the  Arteries  being  flow,  large,  full,  uniform, 
or  equal,  ftrong,  conftant,  and  not  eafily  al- 
terable by  Jlight Tl  Caufes  j  the  Bowels  not 

*  too 


§.  885.      Signs  of  Health.  125 

too  loofe,  but  cojlfoe  13  without  detriment ; 
the  Urine  fmall  in  Quantity,  and  well  con- 
codted,  the  Skin  not  too  eafily  inclined  to 
fweat,  the  Sleep 14  found,  continued,  and  re- 
.  frefhing ;  a  plentiful  Appetite  with  an  eaiy 
D-igeftion,  Ability  to  Labour  Dulnefs  of 
Witl\  and  of  all  the  animal  Motions  both 
of  Body  and  Mind,  with  an  Eafinefs  of 
^Temper  under  all  Accidents  and  Changes  l6. 

1  Thefe  Marks  I  have  enquired  after  from  all 
Quarters,  more  efpecially  from  thofe  who  buy 
Soldiers  for  their  Colonies  in  the  Erf- hi  dies,  who 
are  therefore  careful  to  get  them  ftrong,  fit  for 
Labour,  and  capable  of  enduring  Hunger  and 
Third;  I  have  aifo  made  Enquiry  among  thofe 
who  buy  Slaves  for  the  G.iHies. 

*  For  we  intend  our  Commentaries  for  the  Phy- 
ficians  of  Europe,  hardly  regarding  the  other  Parts 
of  the  World  •,  for  the  Arabians  even  derive  moft 
of  their  Knowledge  frona  the  Europeans. 

3  Lycurgus  wifely  contrived  to  add  a  Stimulus 
to  the  Vencry  of  new  married  People,  that  upon 
publick  Notice  of  the  lead  Mifdameanor,  the 
Hufband  fhould  be  imprifoned,  if  it  was  reported 
that  he  had  to  do  with  his  Wife  and  by  that 
Means  he  procured  Venery  to  be  much  fought  after, 
but  feldom  enjoyed  ;  but  then  he  hoped  by  its 
being  more  vigorous,  that  all  his  Citizens  would 
beget  a  ftronger  Generation.  And  it  is  a  common 
Obfervation  in  France,  that  Baftard  Children  ( En- 
fans  dy  Amour)  are  commonly  ftronger  and  hand- 
fomer,  than  thofe  of  the  Marriage- bed. 

4  In  Man  there  is  no  fet  Time  for  Venery,  but 
in  Brutes  we  fee  there  are  fet  Times  and  Seafons. 
'But  even  in  the  human  Species  the  publick  Regi- 
sters 


126       Sigm  of  Health.  §.885. 

fters  demonf.  ate,  in  which  the  Births  and  Burials 
are  enumerated,  that  thofe  art  the  moft  healthy, 
who  are  born  in  the  three  Months  before  the  vernal 
Equinox.  Thefe  Rules  have  been  recommended 
of  old  by  Socrates ,  when  he  reflects  on  People  for 
being  fo  very  follicitous  about  breeding  up  excel- 
lent Cocks  and  Horfes,  whi'e  at  the  fame  time 
they  neglect  every  thing  which  may  tend  to  make 
their  Children  be  born  as  healthy  as  poffible. 

5  This  is  one  of  the  principal  Reafons,  why  the* 
Offspring  of  Princes  are  fo  tender  and  liable  to 
Difeafes,  becaufe  their  Mothers  being  of  a  delicate 
Habit,  lead  an  un active  Life.  It  is  certainly  much 
the  befb  for  the  Mother  to  ufe  moderate  Exer- 
cife.  Thus  Virgil  advifes  thofe  who  defire  (tout 
Cocks  and  ftrong  Horfes,  to  ufe  them  to  Exer- 
cife ;  and  the  fame  Care  is  to  be  taken  by  thofe 
who  ftudy  to  breed  up  Dogs  for  fighting. 

6  For  in  this  Cafe  the  fingle  Foetus  will  be 
ftronger  and  better  than  if  there  are  Twins,  or 
three  brought  forth  at  a  Birth-,  and  then  the  Foe- 
tus will  be  alfo  proportionably  more  ftrong  and 
healthy,  as  the  Mother  has  gone  more  of  her  full 
Time ;  for  the  Birth  ought  not  to  be  too  early, 
nor  too  long  deferred  beyond  the  proper  Time. 

7  For  thofe  who  are  born  in  thefe  Months,  were 
conceived  in  the  Spring. 

8  Both  Men  and  other  Animals  who  grow  up 
apace,  are  obferved  to  be  of  fhort  Life,  from  the 
too  early  Callofity  and  clofing  up  of  their  Veftels, 
and  from  their  being  difpofed  to  a  pulmonary 
Confumption.  I  find  it  remarked  in  my  Journals, 
that  young  Men  who  have  feemed  hardly  to 
grow  in  Appearance,  are  the  longed  Livers ;  for 
thefe  ufually  continue  as  long  in  their  full  Growth, 
and  in  their  Decay,  as  they  are  a  growing  up. 
Thus  thpfe  who  grow  to  the  25th  Year  of  their 

Age, 


§.885.     Signs  of  Health.  127 

Age,  live  to  the  Age  of  75-,  for  till  50  they 
continue  in  the  fame  State,  but  from  thence  to 
75  they  decline. 

9  Not  with  a  large  Face  or  loofe  Cheeks, 
fpreading  on  each  Side,  but  with  Bones  joined 
together,  fo  as  to  form  a  large  and  capacious 
Skull.  The  ancient  Engravers,  indeed,  feem  to 
have  drawn  Hercules  and  Lacoon  with  a  fmall 
Head  •,  but  this  is  only  fo  in  Appearance,  com- 
pared with  their  broad  Shoulders,  which  make 
the  Head  feem  lefs. 

10  A  thin  and  11  rid  Blood  is  the  beft,  but  de- 
notes Inftability  of  Health  ,  but  a  more  firm  or 
thick  Texture  of  the  Humours,  renders  a  Perfon 
more  capable  of  fuftaining  Labour,  and  from  hence 
it  is  in  Part,  that  a  ftrong  Man  feldom  fweats  even 
at  his  Labour. 

11  The  more  a  Perfon  is  in  Health,  the  lefs  ex- 
ternal Appearances  are  there  of  Refpiration,  except 
at  the  time  of  Sleep,  as  I  have  often  attentively 
obferved  in  the  moftheakhy  Men-,  becaufe  in  thefe 
the  Lungs  are  extremely  pervious,  expand  and 
dilate  molt  freely,  and  acl  moft  powerfully  upon 
all  the  Humours.  But  the  more  unhealthy  or  in- 
difpofed  a  Perfon  is,  the  more  evident  are  the 
external  Signs  of  Refpiration. 

11  They  who  buy  Slaves  count  their  Pulfe  and 
Refpirations  in  a  given  time,  and  then  order  them 
to  run  if  now  they  rind  the  Refpiration  and  Pulfe 
not  mu  h  altered  by  that  violent  Motion,  they 
know  that  they  are  of  a  ftrong  Habit  of  Body,  but 
the  more  weak  and  morbid,  the  (lighter  Caufes 
-will  alter  the  Pulfe,  and  thofe  who  are  in  a  de- 
clining way  towards  Death,  have  their  Pulfe  twice 
or  thrl  e  as  frequent  as  it  ou^hc  to  be  when  they 
exercife  the  Body.  This  Experiment  is  tried  by 
the  Officers  appointed  to  purchafe  Soldiers  for  our 
Dutch  Colonies  in  the  EaJl*Indies.  ' 


128       Signs  of  Health.      §.  885. 

13  For  this  is  a  Sign  that  the  greateft  Quantity 
of  the  ingefted  Aliments  is  duly  attenuated  anddif- 
charged  by  infenfible  Perfpiration.  I  have  known 
the  mod  healthy  People  complaining  of  a  Coftive- 
nefs  in  their  Bowels,  and  Drynefs  of  their  Fasces, 
whereas  this  is  a  Sign  of  a  healthy  and  ftrong  Con- 
ftitution  ;  and  I  have  known  thofe  who  have  been 
moft  healthy,  to  have  a  Stool  but  once  in  feven 
Days  without  Detriment.  The  fame  is  alfo  true 
with  refpect  to  Urine.  But  on  the  contrary,  the 
weaker  any  Perfon  is,  the  more  fluid  and  abundant 
are  the  inteftinal  Fasces,  and  the  more  Urine  is 
made,  as  we  frequently  fee,  to  the  Prejudice  of 
hypochondriacal  and  hyfterical  People.  It  is  alfo 
a  good  Sign,  when  a  Perfon  is  neither  f welled  nor 
over-hot  after  a  plentiful  Dinner,  for  they  digeft 
eafily. 

14  Sleep  in  the  moft  healthy  People  is  profound 
and  uninterrupted,  by  which  they  are  recruited  and 
awake  with  Chearfulnefs. 

15  They  who  are  of  a  ftrong  habit  are  of  ftupid 
Intellects,  and  the  Reverfe-,  for  Ingenuity  requires 
a  delicate  or  very  moveable  State  of  the  Brain  and 
Nerves ;  but  this  again  fuppofes  a  Weaknefs  of 
Body.  On  the  contrary,  Firmnefs  or  Solidity  in 
the  Fibres  or  VefTels,  fuppofes  the  Nerves  to  be 
lefs  fufceptible  of  Imprefiions  or  Motions  fub- 
fervient  to  Thought.  No  Perfon  therefore  can 
be  bleft  in  all  thefe  Refpe&s,  nor  can  he  t>e  a 
Solomon  who  is  cut  out  for  a  Metbufalan.  We 
have  no  Accounts  of  Ingenuity  in  old  Parr  of 
England,  except  that  he  delighted  much  in  Eating, 
and  committed  Adultery  at  the  Age  of  above  an 
Hundred. 

16  Such  as  the  Changes  of  Heat,  Cold,  £s?r. 
and  therefore  Celfus  advifes  a  healthy  Perfon  not 
to  tie  himfelf  down  to  certain  Rules,  but  to  ufe  a 

6  reafonable 


§.886.       Signs  of  Health.  129 

reafonable  Variety  in  his  way  of  Life,  which  may 
difpofe  his  Body  to  fuftain  eafily  all  the  Changes 
to  which  it  may  be  liable, 

§.  886.  But  that  the  Fabric  of  the  Body  is 
fuch  as  difpofes  it  to  the  Exercife  of  its  feveral 
Actions  with  Eafe,  Pleafure  and  Promptitude, 
will  appear,  1 .  to  the  Teftimony  of  the  Se?ifes 1 ; 
2.  from  the  Prefence  of  the  Signs  before  enu- 
merated (§.885.);  3.  from  the  folid  Parts 
being  found  ftrong,  tough  and  elaftic,  with 
refped:  to  their  Matter  5  and  from  their  ap- 
pearing of  fuch  a  Bulk,  Figure,  Connection, 
Situation  and  Proportion  2,  as  may  beft:  ferve 
for  the  Performance,  both  of  the  particular 
and  common  Actions  1  belonging  as  well  to 
the  Fluids  as  the  Solids  with  Eafe  and  Expe- 
dition ;  4.  from  the  Humours  being  of  fuch 
a  Nature,  as  may  difpofe  them  to  an  equable 
Performance  of  their  feveral  inteftine,  circu* 
lacory,  fecretory,    nutritious  and  excretory 
Motions,  without  Irregularities  and  their  Con* 
fequences :  and  indeed  the  moft  evident  Sign 
of  this  Equability  in  the  A&ions  of  the  Fluids, 
is  the  Abfence  of  throbbing  Tumors,  Pains, 
Heats,  Immobility  or  Infenfibility  of  various 
kinds  in  various  Parts.    5.  If  the  Union  of 
the  Body  and  Mind  appears  to  be  fuch,  that 
the  Paffions  are  moderate  4  and  not  over  vk> 
lent ;  6.  if  the  Colour  of  the  Skin  appears 
rofy,  white  5,  or  of  an  agreeable  fwarthy  Co- 
lour, the  Body  being  at  the  fame  time  mo* 
derate  as  to  Heat,  and  light  as  to  Senfe  5  7.  and 

K  laftly> 


1 3  o       Signs  of  Health.      § .  886. 

laftly,  from  its  ftrongly  refilling  all  the  Caufes 
of  Difeafes. 

*  Every  Perfon  has  in  himfelf  the  Signs  of  his 
own  Longevity  •,  for  if  he  finds  himfelf  not  at  all 
oppreflfed  after  Meals,  it  is  a  good  Sign  ;  as  it  alfo 
is  when  the  Perfpiration  is  free  and  plentiful  fome 
time  after  Meals,  when  the  Chyle  has  mixed  itfelf 
with  the  Blood.  If  he  perceives  no  Uneafinefs  in 
any  Part ;  for  fo  long  do  the  Humours  equally 
circulate,  as  the  Patient  (hall  find  no  Oppreffion 
or  Uneafinefs  for  no  Perfon  in  Health  perceives 
the  Weight  of  his  own  Body  upon  his  Feet,  nor 
even  if  he  ftandsupon  one  Foot. 

1  Skilful  Statuaries  make  a  Difference  in  the 
Symmetry  or  Proportion  of  the  Parts  of  Mercury, 
Apollo  and  Hercules  ;  but  whatever  be  this  Pro- 
portion known  to  Statuaries,  it  is  fufficient  to 
demonftrate,  that  a  particular  Make  of  the  Body 
difpofes  it  better  for  fome  certain  Motions  •,  but 
when  the  Proportion  of  the  Parts  in  the  Body  is 
the  moft  uniform,  it  is  then  beft  difpofed  for  the 
Performance  of  all  the  Actions  of  Life  ;  whereas 
in  thofe  who  have  one  Part  of  the  Body  over- 
powering the  reft,  Health  cannot  long  fubfift 
without  being  difturbed  by  Difeafe. 

3  When  the  Parts  perform  their  Motions  without 
Pain,  Pulfation,  Tumor  or  Rednefs  after  ftrong 
Exercife,  it  is  a  Sign  that  the  Humours  are  very 
equally  diftributed  but  when  a  Pulfation,  Tumor, 
or  Pain  is  afterwards  perceived,  Difeafe  lies  con- 
cealed, as  Hippocrates  tells  us  ;  for  the  Senfe  of  no 
Puliation  demonftrates  that  all  the  Humours  pafs 
thro'  their  Veffels  without  Refiftance,  which  is  a 
Circumliance  extremely  neceiTary  to  Longevity. 

4  When  the  Body  is  beft  difpofed  for  a  Habita- 
tion to  the  Mind,  it  is  generally  with  Eafe  deter- 
mined 


§.  887.        Signs  of  Health.  131 

mined  to  Anger,  Sorrow  or  Joy.  Happy  are  they 
who  have  theie  Motions  moderate,  otherwife  the 
Paflions  of  the  Mind  deftroy  the  Body,  in  the  fame 
manner  as  a  Moth  eats  away  a  Garment,  which  is 
a  manifeft  Sign  that  the  Spring  of  the  Paflions  is  in 
the  Body  ;  it  is  therefore  no  wonder  that  the  Paf- 
fions  of  the  Mind  fhould  manifeft  their  Signs  in  the 
Fabric  of  the  Body,  in  Rich  a  manner  that  one  may 
judge  of  one  by  the  other.  For  the  Mind  gene- 
rally follows  the  corporeal  Habit,  unlefs  the  Ma- 
lignity of  the  latter  be  overpowered  by  Reafoning; 
as  Socrates  by  Wifdom  corrected  all  the  Vices  to 
which  his  Body  was  naturally  inclined  from  its 
Make,  obliging  it  to  be  the  Receptacle  of  one  of 
the  bed  of  human  Minds. 

5  Lean  People  are  the  mod  healthy,  whereas 
thofe  who  are  fat  and  of  a  delicate  Habit,  are  dif- 
pofed  to  Difeafe,  and  become  very  much  deformed 
by  a  flight  Emaciation,  and  fall  into  a  bad  Habit. 
It  is  alfo  a  good  Sign  of  Health,  when  the  Ap- 
petite, Digeltion,  Exclufion  of  the  Fasces,  and 
Inclination  to  Sleep,  return  every  Day  at  their 
ufual  times  regularly. 

§.887.  From  what  has  been  faid,  it  is 
evident  that  the  greateft  Power  of  refifting  the 
Caufe  of  any  particular  Difeafe,  whether  ve- 
nomous or  contagious,  does  not  always  denote 
the  moft  perfect  Health,  and  the  reverfe,  as  is 
fufficiently  apparent  in  contagious  Difeafes  and 
in  Poifons  \ 

1  Contagious  Difeafes,   Pleurifies,  Small-pox 
and  the  Venereal  Difeafe,  deftroy  the  Flower  of 
Youth     whereas  People  of  a  languid  Difpofition, 
and  afflicted  wiih  chronical  Diforders,  fuftain  ape- 
K  2  ftilential 


1 3 2  Signs  of  Temperaments.  §.  888. 

ftilential  Air  without  Injury,  and  thofe  who  are 
dropfical  are  almoft  cured  by  ir,  while  only  the 
moil  florid  Youth  and  plethoric  People  perifh.  A 
Perfon  therefore  who  efcapes  the  Plague,  has  no 
reafon  to  think  that  his  Body  is  of  the  moft  firm 
Conftitution,  becaufe  it  is  lefs  inclined  to  acute  Dif- 
eafes  for  that  Difpofition  of  Body  will  be  beft, 
which  fecures  it,  not  only  againft  one,  but  even 
againft  all  kinds  of  Difeafes.  Add  to  this,  that  the 
lean  Spaniards  are  feldom  infected  with  the  Venereal 
Difeafe  from  cohabiting  with  unclean  Women  ; 
whereas  the  Germans^  who  are  more  fat  and  cor- 
pulent, are  always  infected,  and  much  more 
feverely  handled  for  their  Crimes  this  way. 

Signs  of  Health  in  particular ac- 
cording to  the  feveral  Conjlitutions 
or  Habits  of  People. 

§.888.  npHE  moft  healthy  Condition  of 
A  any  particular  Vifcus  or  Part, 
is  known  when  its  Action  is  known  to  pro- 
duce its  feveral  Effects  conftantly,  readily, 
and  with  Eafe  or  Pleafure  1  y  but  as  thefe 
Actions,  and  their  Effects  have  been  explained 
at  large  in  tfce  phyfiological  Part  of  our  In- 
ftitutes,  their  Meaning  in  this  Place  will  be 
therefore  eafily  underftcod  without  a  Reca- 
pitulation. 

*  Thus  we  know  the  State  of  the  Lungs  by  try- 
ing the  Pulfe  and  its  Numbers  in  a  given  time  ; 
then  ordering  the  Patient  to  take  as  deep  an  Infpi- 

ration 


§.  889.  Signs  of  Temperaments.  133 

ration  as  he  is  able,  and  to  retain  the  Air  as  long 
as  pofTible.  If  he  performs  this  without  Pain  or 
Uneafinefs,  the  Pulfe  continuing  a  long  time  and 
without  great  Alteration,  it  is  a  fure  Sign  that  he 
has  good  Lungs.  The  like  Experiment  may  be 
repeated  upon  the  other  Vifcera.  If  Idefire  to  know 
whether  the  Heart  be  well  conditioned,  I  obierve 
whether  it  is  fubjecl  to  a  Palpitation  after  Heat  and 
Exercife,  or  after  the  Chyle  has  pafled  from  the 
Aliments  into  the  Blood. 

§.  889.  Bat  Health  is  a  Difpofition  refiding 
in  every  Part  throughout  the  whole  Body, 
made  up  both  of  Solids  and  Fluids  -y  and  there- 
fore it  can  only  be  relative,  according  to  the 
particular  Habit  of  Body  in  every  individual 1 
Perfon  ;  whence  we  fee  that  different  People, 
whofe  Solids  and  Fluids  vary  much  from  one 
another,  may  neverthelefs  be  found  or  healthy; 
and  this  has  been  termed  by  the  Antients 
Idiofyncrafy,  or  the  Health  of  the  Tempera- 
ment, which  therefore  cannot  without  Diffi- 
culty be  reduced  to  proper  Heads ;  yet  the  Di- 
vifion  of  the  Temperament  propofed  by  the 
Antients  2  into  hot,  cold,  moift,  dry,  bilious, 
fanguine,  phlegmatic,  and  Atrabiliary  or  Me- 
lancholy, is  of  fome  ufe  in  Practice. 

1  There  is  no  fuch  thing  in  the  Univerfe  as  ab- 
folute  or  general  Health,  becaufe  Health  depends 
on  a  certain  Proportion,  in  the  Nature  and  Quan- 
tity of  the  Solids  and  Fluids,  with  refpect  to  them- 
felves  and  to  each  other  in  one  individual  Perfon  ; 
as  for  Example,  Cajus  and  Sempronius  are  both  of 
them  in  Health  ;  but  if  now  the  healthy  Humours 
of  Cajus  are  transfufed  into  Sempronius,  both  of 
K  3  them 


134-  Signs  of  Temperaments.  §.890, 

them  will  be  difordered  ;  but  reftore  each  of  them 
their  refpective  healthful  Humours,  and  they  will 
both  of  them  be  well  again.  For  in  the  fame 
manner  as  we  never  fee  two  Faces  exactly  alike, 
fo  there  is  alfo  a  Difference  in  the  Proportion  and 
Make  of  all  the  Vifcera  and  Humours,  that  the 
Heart  and  Lungs  of  one  Perfon  never  refemble 
thofe  of  another.  This  is  what  the  Antients  have 
called  the  Idiofyncrafy  or  particular  Habit  of  a  Per- 
fon ;  and  it  is  from  the  Antients  I  have  deduced 
thefe  Differences  of  Conftitution,  only  I  have  added 
their  Caufes,  derived  from  the  Structure  of  the  So- 
lids, together  with  a  fhort  Lift  of  fuch  things  of 
the  Juvantia  and  Laedentia  with  refpect  to  each. 

a  Thefe  ClafTes  have  been  oppofed  by  Helmont* 
who  yet  durft  not  affirm  that  they  were  ufelefs. 

§.  890.  The  Signs  of  hot  Temperature  are  1 
faid  to  be  thick  yellow  Hair,  abounding  all 
over  the  Body,  a  reddifli  Colour  in  the  white 
of  the  Eyes,  and  in  the  lachrymal  Caruncles, 
with  an  intenfe  Rednefs  of  the  Face,  Lips  and 
Mouth ;  a  flender,  active,  warm  and  robuft 
Body,  a  large  and  quick  Pulfe,  an  angry  Dif- 
pofition,  but  foon  over.  In  fuch  Perfons  the 
Veffels  feefn  to  be  ftrong  and  contracted,  the 
Vifcera  firm  and  active,  the  Humours  corn- 
pad,  acrid  and  brifkly  moving  ->  and  therefore 
in  fuch,  Aliments  and  Medicines  which  are 
moiftening,  cooling  and  diluent  will  be  fen- 
viceable,  whereas  fuch  as  beat  the  Blood  of 
all  kinds,  will  be  highly  prejudicial. 

'Eafily  excited  to  Anger,  but  as  eafily  appeafed. 
Such  Perfons  living  in  the  fame  Air  with  others,  are 
actually  warmer  than  thofe  of  different  Confu- 
tations. 

§,  891, 


§.  8  g  2 .   Signs  of  Temperame?tts.  135 

§.891.  The  Signs  of  a  cold  1  Temperament 
are  all  contrary  to  the  former ;  fuch  as  Smooth- 
nefs  of  the  Skin,  thin  or  fine  Hair,  a  pale 
Colour,  a  corpulent,  lazy,  weak  and  cold  Bo- 
dy, difpofed  to  Swellings ;  a  fmall  and  flow 
Pulfe,  a  dull,  unthoughtful  and  fearful  Mind. 
In  thefe  People  the  Humours  are  mild,  wa- 
tery, phlegmatic  and  flow  of  Motion,  ac- 
companied with  a  Laxity  and  Weaknefs  of 
the  Solids.  For  fuch,  every  thing  that  ftrength- 
ens  the  Solids  acd  warms  z  the  Humours 
will  be  ferviceable,  whereas  fuch  as  cool, 
moiften  and  relax,  will  be  prejudicial. 

»  In  fuch  the  Body  fvvells  upon  every  flight  Oc- 
cafion,  nor  are  they  liable  to  PalTions  of  Mind, 
except  Fear,  which  arifes  from  every  thing  with- 
out occafion. 

1  Such  as  Spices  and  antifcorbutic  Medicines. 
But  weak  Girls  belonging  to  this  Clafs,  deftroy 
themfelves  when  they  drink  Teaprofufely. 

§.  892.  The  Signs  of  a  dry  1  Temperament 
are  much  the  fame  as  of  the  hot  one  (§.  890), 
if  Leannefs  1  be  added  to  them ;  and  the  Vef- 
fels  here  are  more  contracted,  the  Humours 
fmall  in  Quantity,  and  in  a  manner  more 
acrid.*  They  are  aflifted  and  injured  by  the 
fame  things  as  we  mentioned  in  the  warm 
Temperament.  But  a  moid  Temperature  is 
much  the  fame  with  the  cold  one  (§.  891),  if 
we  add  a  Tumor  or  Turgefcence  of  the  whole 
Habit  5  fo  that  what  has  been  faid  of  that  will 
hold  true  of  this. 

K  4  In 


1 3  6  Signs  of  Temperaments.  §.  893, 

1  In  inch  the  Humours  are  lefs  in  Quantity, 
more  powerfully  moved  through  Veflfels  which 
are  lefs  contracted,  and  confequently  are  rendered 
more  acrid. 

2  To  fuch  warm  things  are  prejudicial,  as  is 
well  known  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Africa,  Spain, 
and  Italy,  who  are  of  a  more  dry  and  more  lean 
Habit  than  any  other  People  \  for  among  thefe, 
the  flighteft  Alteration  of  Air  always  brings  tha 
mod  fatal  Difeafes. 

§.893.  A  choleric  or  bilipus  Conftitution  is 
faid  to  difcover  itfelf  by  an  abundance 1  of  black 
and  curling  Hair,  Hardnefs,  Leannefs,  and 
Thinnefs  of  the  Flefh,  a  brown  Skin,  large 
Veins,  a  quick  and  large  Pulfe,  Boldnefs  and 
Angrinejsz  of  Tenn  er.  In  thefe  the  Solids 
feem  to  predominate  over  the  Quantity  of  the 
Fluids ;  whence  they  feem  to  be  nearly  a-kin 
to  thofc  of  the  dry  (§4  882),  and  of  the  hot 
Temperament  (§.  890.)  Things  warm  and 
dry  will  be  prejudicial  to  thefe  3  but  fuch  as 
jnoiften  and  cool  will  be  ferviceable. 

*  Among  the  warmed  Nations,  the  Moors  and 
Afiatie&,  they  remarkably  abound  with  Hair,  and 
every  Child  becoming  warmer  at  the  Age  of  Pu- 
berty, do  then  begin  to  abound  with  Hairpin  fe- 
vera!  Parts  ;  even  Girls  themfelves  of  a  ftout  Ha- 
bit, have  a  fort  of  woolly  Beard. 

*  They  are  called  Choleric,  becaufe  they  often, 
difcharge  a  bitter  Choier  both  upward  and  down- 
ward ;  whence  they  feem  to  make  more  Bile  than 
other  People,  which  gives  them  a  more  intenfe 
Heat. 

§.  894. 


§.896.  Sigm  of.  Temperaments  •  137 

§.  894.  A  fanguine  Temperament  is  faid  to 
be  diftinguiihed  by  Scarcity  of  Hair,  which 
appears  of  a  yellowifh,  white,  or  brown  Co- 
lour, the  Flefh  foft  and  abundant,  the  Veins 
large,  blue,  and  diftended  with  Blood,  a  rofy 
Colour  in  the  Face,  Aptnefs  to  Anger,  and  of 
a  pliant,  fickle  Temper.  For  fuch,  things 
which  cool  and  evacuate  are  ufeful  5  but  fuch 
as  warm  or  ftimulate  violently  are  prejudicial. 

Thefe  perfe6lly  anfwer  the  Defcription  whi  :h 
ffomer  gives  of  Achilles.  In  fuch  the  Blood  is  al- 
ways rarefied,  and  diflends  the  VelTels. 

§.  895.  The  phlegmatic  Conftitution  is 
known  by  the  great  Smoothnefs  of  the  Skin, 
Whitenefs  and  Finenefs  of  the  Hair,  growing 
very  flowly,  Palenefs,  Softnefs,  Turgefcence 
or  Fatnefs  of  Body ;  the  Veins  fmall,  and  con- 
cealed in  the  Fat.  Such  People  feem  to  have 
the  Series  of  Blood-verTels  fmall,  but  the  late- 
ral or  ferous  and  pellucid  Veflfels  more  capaci- 
ous, agreeing  in  other  refpedts  with  thofe  of  a 
cold  Temperament  (§.  891) ;  and  therefore  in 
thefe  likewife  cold  and  moift  things  dte  very 
prejudicial,  whereas  thofe  which  heat, 
ftrengthen  and  dry,  will  be  ufeful. 

§.  896.  Laftly,  the  Signs  of  a  melancholy 
Habit  are  a  Smoothnefs  of  the  Skin,  intenfe 
Blacknefs  of  the  Hair,  extreme  Leannefs  and 
Drynefs  of  the  Flefh,  the  Colour  of  the  Skin 
much  blacker  than  is  ufually  obferved  in  Peo- 
ple 


1 3  8  Signs  of  Temperaments.  §.  896. 

pie  of  the  fame  Nation;  they  are  diligent, 
conftant 1  or  indefatigable,  revengeful 1  of  In- 
juries long  paffed,  and  of  a  very  penetrating 
and  intelligent  Wit^.  In  thefe  therefore  the 
Veflels  feem  to  be  tenfe  or  contra&ed,  ftrong 
and  firm,  the  Humours  denfe  4,  tenacious,  in- 
timately mix'd,  and  not  eafily  feparable,  nor 
liable  to  Changes.  In  thefe,  hot,  dry  and 
acrid  things  are  very  prejudicial ;  but  they  are 
affifted  by  fuch  things  as  are  moiftening,  cool- 
ing, relaxing  and  emollient  in  a  mild  Degree, 
diffolving  without  Acrimony. 

1  A  pad  Injury  makes  a  deep  Imprefiion  upon 
the  Mind,  is  long  retained  in  the  Memory,  and 
not  eafily  effaced. 

a  They  always  continue  in  the  way  to  which  they 
have  been  accuftomed.  If  their  Inclinations  are 
good,  they  become  exemplary  for  their  Virtue  ; 
but  when  the  Reverfe,  they  are  in  effect  Cacodae- 
mons,  or  worfe  than  Devils.  Thefe  are  the  black 
ones  which  Horace  cautions  us  to  be  aware  of. 

3  Difcoveries  in  obfcure  Matters  are  bed  made, 
when  the  Mind  contemplates  a  longtime  upon  the 
fame  Object,  confiders  the  fame  on  all  fides,  and 
is  not  in  the  mean  time  drawn  off  to  other  Mat- 
ters. &ich  is  the  Difpofition  of  the  Mind  in  me- 
lancholy People,  who  are  bed  difpofed  to  enlarge 
the  Bounds  of  Sciences,  as  Arijiotle  well  obferves. 
Of  this  the  celebrated  Swammerdam  is  a  notable  In- 
Itance,  who  after  an  accurate  Knowledge  and  Dif- 
fection  of  all  Kinds  of  Infects,  determined  the  par- 
ticular characleriflic  Marks  to  each  Kind,  and  re- 
duced them  to  a  fmall  Number  of  daffes  with 
immenfe  Labour.  The  fame  Perfon  has  left  us 
many  Writings  upon  Flies,  Bees,  upon  the  Gnat 


897*  Signs  of  Temperaments.  139 

and  Loufe,  which  I  have  endeavoured  to  colled: 
from  feveral  Parts  of  France,  and  may  perhaps 
fome  time  or  other  publifh  them  ;  for  they  are 
Works  which  bear  even  ftronger  Marks  of  La- 
bour and  Induftry  than  thofe  of  MalpighL  But 
this  fame  Swammerdam  was  of  fuch  a  melancholy 
or  atrabiliary  Habit,  that  he  would  fometimes 
hardly  give  an  Anfwer  to  a  Perfon  that  ipoke  to 
him,  but  look  with  an  unconcerned  Countenance  ; 
and  it  is  remarkable  that  when  he  afcended  the 
Roftrum  under  the  Prefidence  cf  Sylvias,  he  flood 
like  one  aftonifhed,  and  anfwered  not  a  word  to 
the  Objections  laid  by  his  Opponents  to  his  The- 
fes,  leaving  all  the  Care  of  anfwering  them  to  the 
Prefident,  when  at  the  fame  time  he  was  probably 
more  learned  than  the  Prefident  himfelf.  Laftly, 
being  taken  with  a  melancholy  Raving  before  his 
Peath,  he  burnt  all  his  Writings  which  were  in 
his  PofTerTion,  when  taken  in  one  of  his  raging 
Fits,  and  perimed  a  mere  Skeleton  with  a  Con- 
fumption. 

4  The  Atrabilis  has  been  bed  defcribed  by  Hip- 
pocrates, becaufe  he  had  frequently  feen  that  Con- 
lritution  prevailing  in  his  Time  in  Greece ;  and 
even  at  this  Day  melancholy  People  are  very  fre- 
quent to  be  met  with  in  thofe  Parts. 

§.  897.  What  has  beenfaid  will  afford  much 
Light  towards  the  Knowledge  and  Cure  of 
Difeafes  1  arifing  from  the  particular  Tempe- 
raments or  Conftitutions  peculiar  to  different 
People  ;  and  from  hence  one  may  fee  to  what 
Difeafes  each  of  them  is  inclined,  fothat  from 
hence  is  derived  a  great  Part  of  the  proegumi- 
nal  or  predifpofing  Caufes. 

It 


140      Signs  of  Difeafes.      §.  898. 

« It  is  remarkable,  that  whole  Nations  may  be 
ranged  under  one  of  thefe  Temperaments.  The 
Italians,  Portuguefe  and  Spaniards  are  briflc  and 
airy  until  the  eighteenth  Year  of  their  Age  *,  but 
after  the  thirtieth  Year,  they  all  become  grave, 
melancholy,  of  a  crofs,  forrowful  Difpofition, 
and  are  fubjecl  to  the  Piles.  They  feek  their  Cure 
naturally,  by  avoiding  Spices,  by  the  Ufe  of  warm 
Baths,  with  which  they  are  delighted,  by  Abfti- 
nence,  and  drinking  of  Water. 

The  Signs  ^Diseases, 

§.  898.  H  E  Signs  of  an  approaching 
X  Difeafe  are  derived,  i.  from  an 
Obfervation  of  the  unufual  Changes  or  Alte- 
rations made  in  any  of  the  Functions,  more 
efpecially  an  uncommon  Wearinefs  \  and 
Senfe  of  Heavinefs  throughout  the  Body  from 
an  obftruded  Perjpiration  1  y  2.  from  an  ac- 
curate Knowledge  of  the  Temperature  \  pe- 
culiar to  each  Perfon,  with  a  particular  Make 
of  the  Body  in  each ;  3 .  from  a  due  Atten- 
tion to  the  ClafTes  of  the  feveral  procatar&ic 
or  remote  4  Caufes,  (§.  744.  to  780.)  ;  4.  from 
a  Knowledge  of  the  epide?nical 5  Diftempers 
which  reign  at  particular  Times  or  Seafons. 

1  Hippocrates,  in  his  Epiftle  to  King  Perdicas, 
and  Diodes  to  Antigonus,  lay  down  as  a  Rule,  that 
if  you  defire  to  know,  whether  you  are  in  danger 
of  any  Difeafe,  you  mud  obferve,  whether  any 

thing 


.§.898.       Signs  of  Difeafes.       14  x 

thingunufual  happens  toyourfelf;  whether  being 
accultomed  to  fleep  found,  you  are  now  reftlefs, 
whether  you  are  fenfible  of  a  Wearinefs  without 
Caufe,  or  whether  you  fweat  in  Sleep,  contrary 
to  what  you  have  been  ufed  to  ;  for  all  thefe  are 
Prefages  of  Difeafe.  Santlorius  has  beautifully  de- 
monftrated,  that  when  the  Body  becomes  heavier 
of  Senfe,  and  unfit  for  Exercife,  Difeafe  is  then 
at  hand  ;  for  this  denotes  an  obftrucled  Perfpira- 
tion.  When  the  Arm  is  lefs  moveable  than  it 
ought,  there  is  then  Difeafe,  or  its  Caufe  there 
prefent.  When  the  Bowels  are  more  than  ufually 
loofe,  they  are  difordered.  But  all  thefe  were  as 
accurately  obferved  by  Hippocrates,  without  the 
Ufe  of  the  Bal lance,  as  by  Santlorius,  who  invent- 
ed the  weighing  Chair.  Almoft  all  Difeafes  are 
preceded  by  fuch  a  Weight,  except  an  Apoplexy ; 
and  they  may  be  for  the  mod  part  prevented,  if 
the  Patient  and  Phyfician  take  Notice  of  this  Sign 
in  time,  and  ufe  proper  Meafures  accordingly. 

1  That  is,  when  the  Body  appears  heavier  by  the 
Steelyard. 

3  If  I  know  a  Perfon  to  be  of  a  plethoric  Ha- 
bit, I  readily  conclude,  that  he  will  have  better 
Health  in  Winter,  and  worfe  in  Summer. 

4  When  you  have  difcovered  the  predifpofing 
Caufe  in  the  Patients  Habit,  and  the  remote  Caufe 
in  the  Non-naturals,  you  have  then  a  full  Know- 
ledge of  the  whole  Caufe,  that  is,  of  the  Difeafe 
itfelf. 

5  After  Hippocrates,  Sydenham  has  fir  ft  taught  us 
that  twice  a  Year,  there  is  in  every  Conftitution 
an  Inclination  to  Difeafes,  and  that  fome  Difeafes 
have  a  natural  Tendency  to  cure  themfelves  5  as 

•  for  Example,  that  all  Difeafes  require  to  be  cured 
by  a  Dyfentery,  when  that  Diflemper  is  predomi- 
nant.   When  there  is  a  reigning  Difpofition  to 

5  Quartans, 


142      Signs  of  Difeafes.        §.  899. 

Quartans,  plethoric  People  efcape,  but  the  Me- 
lancholy fuffer  mod.  This  is  a  moft  ufeful  Obfer- 
vation,  and  is  fufficient  to  furnifh  us  with  a  Rea- 
fon,  why  a  wife  and  fuccefsful  Phyfician,  chan- 
ging his  Country,  will  not  be  equally  fuccefsful  in 
his  Practice,  without  varying  k  accordingly. 

§.  899.  The  Signs  of  a  paft  1  Difeafe,  are 
evident,  from  the  known  Effects  which  re- 
main after  the  Injury  of  any  folid  Part,  or 
following  from  peccant  Humours,  or  the 
A&ions  injured;  for  he  that  compares  the 
Ufes  of  the  Parts,  as  obferved  in  Health,  with 
thofe  Defefts  which  remain,  will  from  thence 
eafily  underftand  the  Nature  of  the  Dif- 
eafe. 

1  By  this  Difcovery  of  paft  Events,  the  Phy- 
fician will  acquire  Admiration  from  the  People, 
in  the  fame  Manner,  as  by  prefaging  what  will 
come  after,  he  will  feem  to  them  learned  beyond 
human  Capacity.  If  a  Phyfician  is  told  by  the 
Patient,  that  he  has  fweated  all  Night,  and  an- 
fwers,  but  1  fee  in  your  Urine,  that  you  fweated 
little  or  nothing  yefterday  Night  namely,  becaufe 
he  fees  a  large  Quantity  of  Urine,  he  will  by  that 
Means  gain  great  Admiration  from  the  Vulgar. 
For  when  you  fee  an  Effect,  of  which  you  know 
the  Gaufe,  it  will  be  eafy  to  conclude  from  feeing 
the  fame  Effect,  what  Caufes  preceded.  Another 
Patient  complains,  that  he  is  troubled  with  an 
Afthma  ;  but  enquiring  after  the  Particulars,  the 
Diforder  is  not  brought  on  either  by  Cold  or  by 
Heat,  nor  yet  was  it  hereditary  from  the  Birth,  , 
nor  is  the  Patient  able  to  lie  eafily  upon  either 
Side  j  whence  I  may  certainly  conclude,  that  his 
8  Lungs 


§.902.       Signs  of  Difeafes.  143 

Lungs  are  inflamed,  and  may  fafely  pronounce 
that  to  be  the  Cafe. 

§.  900.  The  Signs  of  a  prefcnt  Difeafe,  re- 
late either  to  its  Caufes,  Nature,  Symptoms, 
State,  or  Event. 

§.  901.  The  Signs  indicating  the  Nature  of 
the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe,  are  taken,  1.  from 
an  Obfervation  of  fuch  Things,  as  being  ap- 
plied to  the  Body,  produce  Difeafes ;  concern- 
ing which  we  treated  before,  under  the  Title 
of  Caufes  of  Difeafes;  2.  from  the  Idiofyn- 
crafy  1  or  Conftitution  of  the  Patient  before 
described  (§.  888,  to  898.) ;  3.  from  obferving 
the  Nature  of  the  prefent  Effects  obvious 
to  the  Senfes. 

1  You  will  eafily  difcover  the  Difeafe  after  be- 
ingonce  acquainted  with  the  Habit  and  Conftitution 
of  the  Patient,  and  the  external  Caufes,  which 
conjunctly  applied,  conftitute  the  Difeafe. 

§.  902.  A  Difeafe  in  the  folid  Parts  is  known 
I  1 .  from  the  Force,  Quality,  Continuance,  and 
Method,  of  applying  the  Caufe,  either  exter- 
nally or  internally  2.  from  afenfible  Change 
of  the  Qualities,  Situation ,  and  Connexion  \ 
of  the  affected  Part;  3.  from  the  injured 
Functions *  ;  4.  from  what  is  difcharged,  ei- 
ther immediately  or  obliquely  3  from  the  af- 
fected Part. 

*  In  Diflocations  and  Diftortions,  the  Diforder 
is  known  from  the  Part  having  changed  its 
Situation. 

When 


144-        Signs  of  Difeqfes.      §.  903* 

1  When  a  dropfical  Patient  can  fuftain  Heat,  it 
is  a  good  Sign  ;  but  if  that  is  intolerable  to  them, 
the  Humours  are  already  difpofed  to  Putrefa&ion 
or  Acrimony. 

3  As  when  I  fee  a  redd ifh  coloured  Mucus  dis- 
charged, I  know  the  VefTels  to  have  been  di- 
lated. 

§.903.  Wounds,  Contufions,  Corrofions, 
or  Burns,  are  known  to  be  prefent  by  the 
Senfes  themfelves,  when  they  happen  in  an 
obvious  Part. 

But  the  Condition  or  State  of  thefe  Acci- 
dents is  known,  i.by  Infpeftion  ;  2.  from  the 
known  Nature  of  the  Part 1  injured  ;  3.  from 
the  feveral  Symptoms. 

The  Events  of  thefe  are  prefaged,  1.  from 
confidering  the  Neceffity  of  the  injured  Func- 
tion, with  refped:  to  Life  and  Health  ;  2. 
from  the  Nature  of  the  Part  injured  5  3.  from 
the  Manner  in  which  the  Injury  was  com- 
mitted ;  4.  and  laftly,  from  the  Temperature  * 
and  Habit  of  the  Patient. 

*  For  a  Contufion,  which  would  be  of  no  Con- 
fequence  in  the  Skin,  would  neverthelefs,  in  a 
conglomerate  Gland,  produce  a  :;aiignant  Scir- 
rhus. 

1  Which  alone  frequently  renders  a  Wound  fa- 
tal, when  it  was  but  flight  in  itfelf.  In  confump^ 
tive  People,  there  is  very  little  Blood  circulating 
wtihin  the  VefTels  \  fo  that  taking  away  a  few 
Ounces  of  Blood  by  a  Wound,  or  other  Accident 
in  thefe,  it  proves  fatal,  when  it  would  hardly  af- 
fect a  healthy  Perfon.  A  Cancer  is  eafily  cured  in 

a  plethoric 


§i  904.     Signs  of  Difeafes.  145 

a  plethoric  Woman,  but  very  difficultly  in  one  of 
a  melancholy  Habit. 

§.  904.  The  Prefence  of  Ulcers  \  Fifbla?, 
Scirrhi,  Cancers,  Caries,  Inflammations,  Gan- 
grenes, and  perfect  Mortifications,  lying  ob- 
vious to  the  Senfes,  makes  it  eafy  to  difcover 
them  by  their  pathognomonic  Signs  contained 
in  their  Definitions. 

But  alfo  the  Condition  of  thefe  is  known, 
I.  by  the  Sight,  Touch,  and  Smell ;  2.  from 
the  known  Nature  of  the  injured  Part  3  3. 
from  obferving  the  Symptoms. 

But  the  Event  of  thefe  is  prognofticated, 

1.  from  the  known  Nature  of  the  Malady 1  * 

2.  from  the  Nature  of  the  Parts  inji{red\ 
and  their  Importance,  with  refpect  to  Life 
and  Health;  3.  from  a  Knowledge  of  the 
other  circumjacent  Parts  4  ;  4.  from  the  Dif- 
ficulty of  applying  the  proper  Means  or  Re- 
medies s ;  5.  and  laftly,  from  the  Temperature 
and  Habit  of  the  Patient. 

x  Thefe  being  known  by  their  Definitions  may 
be  eafily  difcovered  in  the  Patient  when  prefent. 
Thus  a  Scirrhus  is  an  indolent,  hard  and  unequal 
Tumor  in  a  glandular  Part  *,  and  in  this  Definition, 
you  have  comprifed  all  the  Appearance  of  a  Scir- 
rhus. A  Cancer  is  the  fame  Scirrhus  painful,  ulce- 
rated, or  changed  into  a  gangrenous  Nature,  dif- 
charging  an  Ichor.  Thus  you  may  fee,  that  by 
keeping  the  Definitions  in  Memory,  it  will  be  eafy 
to  difcover  the  prefent  Diforder  in  the*  Patient. 


L 


When 


146       Signs  of  Difeafes.     §.  905. 

*  When  I  fee  an  Inflammation,  I  readily  con- 
clude, that  it  will  either  terminate  in  aRefolution, 
Suppuration,  Gangrene,  or  Scirrhus. 

?  It  is  eafy  to  determine,  whether  the  Brain  and 
Cerebellum  are  injured  in  a  Wound,  according  as 
the  vital  and  animal  Functions  appear  to  be  in- 
jured. 

4  A  Suppuration  in  itfelf  feldom  does  much  In- 
jury, but  if  it  happens  in  the  Groin,  and  eats  thro* 
the  cellular  Coat  of  the  iliac  Artery,  it  may  pro- 
duce a  fatal  Haemorrhage  and  in  the  fame  man- 
ner a  Cancer  often  fuddenly  kills  the  Patient  by  a 
profufe  Hsemorrhage,  after  the  VefTels  have  been 
corroded  by  the  moft  fharp  Ichor. 

s  Thus  an  Ulcer  of  the  Lungs  would  not  deftroy 
the  Patient  if  it  was  practicable  to  make  an  imme- 
diate Application  of  balfamic  and  other  Medicines, 
as  in  an  Ulcer  of  the  Arm. 

§.  905.  But  if  thefe  Diforders  before-men- 
tioned (§-903,904.)  lie  internally  concealed 
from  the  Senfes,  they  are  neverthelefs  to  be 
difcovered  by  their  Signs;  taken  i.  From  the 
Nature  of  the  Caufe.  2.  From  the  tunBion  1 
of  any  kind  which  appears  injured  at  the  fame 
time.  3.  From  the  Excreta  \  4.  From  the 
J?  art 3  affected,  already  known  4  by  Anatomy, 
as  well  with  refpect  to  its  internal  as  external 
Make.  5.  andlaftly,  From  the  fenfiblei^z- 
Iitys  or  A&ion  of  the  Part  injured. 

But  the  prefent  State  and  future  Events  of 
them,  after  they  are  once  known,  are  derived 
from  the  fame  Heads  as  we  before  mentioned. 
(§.902,  904.) 


When 


§.  905-    Sigm  of  Difeafes.  147 

1  When  a  Jaundice  appears  after  a  Contufion  or 
Fall,  one  may  fafely  conclude  that  the  Liver  is 
injured. 

'  a  When  Blood  is  difcharged  by  Vomit,  after  we 
are  afiured  fome  Contufion  has  preceded,  as  the 
Injury  can  hardly  exert  itfelf  upon  the  Scomach  and 
Inteftines,  it  will  therefore  follow,  that  the  Blood 
muft  proceed  from  the  Liver,  Spleen,  or  Pancreas. 

3  The  bed  anatomical  Demonftration  is  that  re- 
commended by  LanciJ/i,  in  his  Preface  to  the  Ta- 
bles of  Euftachius  •,  namely,  that  in  which  the  Bo- 
dy is  diftributed  into  particular  Parts  and  Regions, 
taking  exact  Notice  what  Parts  appear  fituated  un- 
der the  external  Parts,  upon  opening  the  Body. 
Almoft  in  this  manner  has  Euftachius  difpofed  his 
Tables,  drawn  up  to  correct  the  Errors  of  Vefalius\ 
the  firft  Table  mewing  the  external  Parts,  and  the 
next  exhibiting  the  Parts  contained  under  the  for- 
mer ;  fo  that  by  comparing  the  Tables  together 
one  after  another,  the  Situation  of  all  the  Parts 
may  be  accurately  known.  I  am  not  indeed  igno- 
rant, that  Nature  fometimes  fports  and  varies  the 
Situation  of  the  Parts,  but  that  does  not  render 
this  Study  lefs  ufeful  or  neceifary  with  regard  to 
Practice. 

4  Thus  the  Structure  of  the  Breafts  and  of  the 
Pancreas  is  nearly  alike,  and  in  both  a  Scirrhofity 
of  the  Glands  follow  from  a  Contufion  ;  and  there- 
fore one  may  from  thence  conclude,  that  as  an  ir- 
ritated Scirrhus  may  turn  to  a  Cancer  in  the 
Breafts,  fo  it  may  likewife  do  the  fame  in  the  Pan- 
creas, where  it  m  »y  fpread  and  corrode  all  the  ad- 
jacent Parts. 

5  If  a  Perfon  falls  from  a  high  Place,  and  foon 
after  has  a  Yellownefs  appears  throughout  the  whole 
Skin,  and  difcharges  Blood  concreted  either  by 
Vomit  or  Stool,  as  if  it  was  the  Subftance  of  the 

L  2  Liver,  \ 


148        Signs  of  Difeafes.    §,  907; 

Liver  ;  from  thefe  Marks  one  may  fafefy  conclude 
that  the  Liver  is  contufed,  and  that  Blood  is  extra- 
vafated  from  the  ruptured  VtfTels  of  the  Liver  into 
the  Cavity  of  the  Stomach  and  Inteftines. 

§.  906.  The  Part  affected  in  a  Difeafe, 
whether  external  or  internal,  but  injured  from 
an  external  Caufe,  has  generally  Signs  which 
manifeft  themfelves  to  the  external  Senfes,  by 
which  one  may  eafily  difcover  the  Caufe ;  of 
this  Nature  are  a  great  Number  of  Diforders, 
fuch  as  Wounds,  Contufions,  Inflammations, 
Tumors,  Ulcers,  Gangrenes,  Sphacelus,  Luxa- 
tions, Diftortions,  Fractures,  Caries,  Wither- 
ing, Scirrhus,  Cancer,  &c. 

Add  to  this  that  a  Co?nparifon  1  of  the  inju- 
red Function,  with  the  Origin  of  thelnftru- 
mentby  which  the  Action  is  performed,  will 
point  out  the  Seat  of  the  Diforder. 

1  This  is  a  Rule  of  the  laft  Importance,  though 
very  much  neglected.  For  Inftance,  a  Patient  is 
paralytic,  not  being  able  to  extend  his  Arm;  I  firft 
enquire  whether  the  Diforder  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Mufcles,  but  not  finding  it  there  I  enquire  farther, 
and  the  Patient  informs  me,  that  he  has  been 
fome  time  before  afflicted  with  an  Epilepfy  or  Ver- 
tigo, by  which  means  I  learn  that  the  Diforder  is 
in  the  Brain,  though  manifefting  its  Effects  in 
the  Arm. 

§.  907.  If  the  Part  affected  be  internal,  and 
injured  by  an  internal  Caufe,  it  is  not  indeed 
fo  eafy  to  difcover,  yet  may  it  be  known  1. 
From  the  known  Nature  of  the  Caufe.  2. 

2  From 


§.  907.     Signs  of  Difeafes.  149 

From  the  injured  FunEtion  \  3.  From  the 
Nature  of  the  Difeafe.  4.  By  the  Excreta  in 
a  great  meafure.  5.  From  the  Symptoms  well 
underflood,  and  compared  together,  with  an 
anatomical  Knowledge  of  the  Parts  for  from 
thefe  five  Heads  or  Springs,  are  we  principally 
acquainted  with  internal  and  latent  Difeafes 
of  theBrain,  Noftrils,  Fauces,  Thorax,  Pleura, 
Mediaftinum,  Pericardium,  Lungs,  Heart, 
Diaphragm,  Liver,  Spleen,  Stomach,  Pancreas, 
Mefentery,  Inteftines,  Kidneys,  Ureters,  Blad- 
der, Urethra,  Womb,  and  genital  Parts. 

1  The  Phyfician  ought  to  recoiled:  from  Phyfio- 
logy,  what  the  Functions  are  belonging  to  the 
injured  Part.  Thus  theBrain  being  injured,  caufes 
a  Vertigo,  Noife  in  the  Ears,  Lofs  of  Sight, 
Abolition  of  the  Senfes,  and  Apoplexy  •,  if  any  of 
thefe  Diforders  is  prefent,  it  denotes  the  Injury  to 
be  in  the  Brain.  Therefore  at  hrft  vifiting  the 
Patient,  unlefs  the  Phyfician  is  perfectly  clear  in 
the  Cafe,  he  ought  only  to  fpeak  in  general  Terms, 
not  capable  of  being  taken  hold  of,  and  to  order 
fome  innocent  Medicine,  "making  a  Memorandum 
at  the  fame  time  of  all  the  Symptoms  upon  a  Piece 
of  Paper,  that  he  may  at  home  more  leifurely  weigh 
them  in  his  Mind,  and  determine  with  himfelf  which 
is  the  Part  affected;  in  what  Stage  the  Difeafe  is  ad- 
vanced ;  what  may  be  thence  feared ;  upon  what 
Part  the  Diforder  may  be  tranflated,  &c.  Thus 
he  will  always  be  able  to  under ftand  the  Difeafe, 
having  fir  ft  rightly  confidered  all  the  Circumftan- 
ces  •,  but  if  this  Method  be  neglected  he  will  al- 
ways be  liable  to  Error  and  Miftake,  which  does 
but  too  frequently  happen,  at  lead  to  the  Damage 
of  the  Patient's  Welfare,  if  not  to  the  PhyfiuanY. 

L  3  Reputation, 


x5°        %J  fl/  Difeafes.     §.  908. 

Reputation.  Yet  ought  not  any  Signs  of  Doubt  or 
Hcfitation  to  be  (hewn  before  the  Patient ;  and  at 
the  next  Vifit  he  may  alien:  what  he  has  to  fay 
concerning  the  Difeafe,  as  if  derived  from  mathe- 
matical Demonftration,  as  he  may  fafely  do  the 
next  Day,  after  having  thoroughly  understood  the 
Difeafe.  For  a  Patient  will  always  adhere  to  a 
Phyfician  who  is  confident  or  pofitive  but  on  the 
contrary,  he  will  not  eafily  incline  to  a  Phyfician, 
who  feems  to  be  wavering  or  unfettled  in  his 
Opinion.. 

§.  908.  The  Signs  of  acute  Difeafes  arifing 
in  the  Humours,  are  derived  1.  From  the 
Velocity  and  Violence  of  the  Increafe  of  the 
Difeafe  itfelf.  2.  From  the  Violence  of  the 
Symptoms.  3.  From  the  injured  Functions. 
4.  From  the  Excreta  \  or  what  is  discharged 
from  the  Body.  5.  From  the  epidemical  Con- 
ftitution or  6.  Seafon  1  of  the  Year.  7.  From 
the  Sex,  Age  \  Mode  of  Life 4,  and  Tempera- 
ture 5  of  the  Patient. 

1  The  more  the  Excreta  recede  from  their  natu- 
ral State,  the  more  dangerous  is  the  Difeafe. 

1  Sudden  Alterations  of  the  Air  from  Heat  to 
Cold,  are  always  attended  with  great  Danger ;  and 
therefore  Difeafes  are  the  moft  acute  in  the  Spring, 
in  the  Middle  of  Summer,  and  the  Beginning  of 
Autumn. 

3  Infants  and  Children  are  but  little  obnoxious 
to  acute  Difeafes,  which  are  more  frequent  and 
fevere  in  young  People,  and  thofe  of  a  middle 
Age. 

.  4  A  Perfon  of  a  laborious  and  active  Life  is 
more  liable  to  acute  Difeafes,  as  thofe  of  a  feden- 

tary 


§.  9 1 1  •    Signs  of  Difeafes.  151 

tary  Life  are  more  liable  to  chronical  Diforders  ; 
and  the  more  a  Perfon  feeds  upon  Aliments  inclin- 
,  ed  to  Putrefaction,  the  more  liable  is  he  to  acute 
Difeafes. 

5  Plethoric  Peop'e  are  more  fubject  to  acute 
Difeafes  than  the  Melancholy. 

§.  909.  If  all  the  forementioned  Signs 
(§.  908.)  are  very  fevere  or  violent,  they  de- 
note great  Danger ;  but  if  they  are  more 
gentle,  they  promife  fome  Hopes  of  Recovery. 

§.  910.  The  Signs  alfo  of  acute  Difeafes  in 
the  Fluids,  which  determine  and  prcfage  the 
State,  Danger,  Duration  and  Event  of  the 
Diftemper,  are  underftood  from  an  Obferva- 
tion  of  the  Effecls  refulting  from  the  depraved 
State  of  the  Humours,  as  before-mentioned, 
(§.  760  to  766,  and  781  to  792.) 

§.  911.  The  Signs  of  Acrimony  in  the  Hu- 
mours are  chiefly  Pain  \  without  any  Signs 
of  an  increafed  Motion,  and  without  any  ap- 
parent or  great  Obftruction  3  as  alfo  an  Erofi- 
on  of  the  Parts,  without  being  accompanied 
with  any  Swelling  or  Tumor. 

1  Pain  does  not  therefore  always  arife  from  an 
Acrimony  of  the  Blood,  as  many  have  believed, 
but  from  the  Impulfe  of  theBlood  into  an  obftruct- 
ed  or  too  narrow  a  Veffel,  by  the  violent  urging 
Force  of  a  Fever  ;  and  I  may  fafely  pronounce, 
that  Pain  does  not  proceed  one  time  in  ten  from 
Acrimony  of  the  Flumodrs.  But  when  Pain  pro- 
ceeds from  Acrimony,  it  fhews  itfelf  without  Fe- 

L  4  ver 


I52         Signs  of  Difeafes.    §.  912, 

ver  or  intenfe  Motion  of  the  Blood,  as  in  the  Scur- 
vy. It  is  therefore  unjuft  in  Paracellus  to  afcribe 
the  fame  Hurricanes  and  Alterations  to  the  human 
JSody,  as  to  the  Air  in  the  greater  World  -3  as  for 
Example,  the  Cardinal  Winds,  &V. 

§.  9 12..  The  Signs  of  an  alcaline  1  Acrimo- 
ny are  a  fetid  cadaverous  Smell  either  in  the 
whole,  or  in  fome  particular  Part  of  the  Bo- 
dy ;  a  Tafte  4  in  the  Mouth  like  that  of  putrid 
Flefh  or  Urine ;  an  Afh-coloured,  leaden  or 
blackifh  Erofion  of  the  Skin,  that  creeps  and 
fpreads  apace ;  intenfe  Thirft  hardly  to  be  ap- 
peafed  ,*  a  Lofs  of  Appetite  \  abhorring  all 
Food ;  a  Loofenefs  of  the  Faeces  from  the 
Bowels,  of  a  fplendent  brown  or  black  Colour, 
and  cadaverous  Smell ;  acrid,  thick,  brown 
and  frothy  Urine  4,  fmelling  as  if  it  was  pu- 
trid,  and  hardly  depofiting  any  Sediment; 
Sweat 5  little  or  none,  or  at  leaft  refembling 
the  Urine  before  defcribed  ;  the  external  Skin 
dry,  as  alfo  the  internal  Nofe,  Mouth,  Tongue 
and  Fauces;  the  Blood  thin,  diffolved,  of  a 
florid 6  Colour,  and  hardly  congealing ;  red- 
difh  Puftules  full  of  Ichor,  of  a  brown,  leaden 
or  black  Colour,  and  foon  tending  to  a  Gan- 
grene1 j  5.  Buboes,  Carbuncles,  purple  Spots, 
and  mod:  acute  Inflammations,  very  fpeedy  in 
thejr  Effects ;  a  Sphacelus,  with  a  bliftering  of 
{he  Cuticle  ;  and  laftly,  Relief  frqrn  the  Ufe 
of.  Acids  \ 

• 

1  Which  is  in  itfelf  as  bad  as  a  fevere  Plague. 
For  the  more  our  Humours  incline  to  the  Nature 

Gf 


§.  912.    Signs  of  Difeafes.  153 

of  a  volatile  rancid  Oil  and  alcaline  Salt,  the  more 
ardent  or  acute  Fevers  mutt  they  necefiarily  ex- 
cite. 

z  This  Tafte  the  Patient  complains  of  as  if  it 
was  in  the  Food,  whereas  it  is  in  the  Saliva  dege- 
nerating into  an  alcaline  Acrimony  ;  and  not  only 
the  Saliva,  but  the  Sweat,  intellinal  Fasces  and 
Urine  teftify  of  an  alcaline  Acrimony  by  their  ca- 
daverous or  fcetid  fmell.  When  the  inteftinal 
Fasces  are  in  this  Condition,  one  may  always 
fafely  give  Acids. 

J  Not  only  with  an  Averfion  to  Food,  but  with 
the  greateft  Abhorrence  to  Flcfh- meats.  A  Lofs 
of  Appetite  fometimes  proceeds  from  an  acid  Ca- 
cochymia;  but  this  never  induces  an  Abhorrence 
of  Food. 

4  Such  Urine  is  putrid  and  lixivial,  of  a  diflbl- 
ying  and  deftruclave  Nature. 

5  Staining  Spots  in  the  Linen  fo  ftrongly,  as  to 
be  hardly  capable  of  being  waflied  out. 

6  Such  kind  of  Blood  as  this  is  fometimes  taken 
from  a  Vein  in  aPleurify,  and  in  the  Plague  of  a 
malignant  Kind.  This  Fact  is  taken  Notice  of  by 
Baglivi,  but  he  afcribes  it  to  wonderful  Caufes  : 
but  it  proceeds  from  alcaline  Salts,  which  diflblve 
the  Blood  into  an  Ichor.  Oftentimes  in  the  moft 
malignant  Plague,  and  in  the  word  Species  of  the 
confluent  Small-Pox,  there  is  no  other  Sign  of 
Malignity  in  the  Difeafe,  except  a  known  epide- 
mical Conftitution  fhould  advertife  the  Phyfician. 
It  is  therefore  evident,  that  the  Humours  do  not 
become  fo  acrimonious  in  Difeafes  as  is  commonly 
imagined;  for  pleuritic  Blood  dropt  into  the  Eye 
excites  no  Pain  or  uneafy  Senfation. 

7  Such  gangrenous  Eruptions  as*  invade  the 
tough  Skin  in  the  Small-Pox,  may  doubtlefs  take 
place  alfo  in  the  Integuments  of  the  Liver  and 

Lungs, 


154        Signs  of  Difeafes.    §.  912. 

Lungs,  fo  as  to  be  of  fatal  Confcquence  in  thofe 
Farts. 

8  For  Acids  refift  Putrefaction,  and  overpower 
or  change  every  thing  alcaline.    Hence  it  was  ob- 
served by  the  Phyficians  called  to  the  Cure  of  the 
Plague  at  Marfeilles,  that  the  diforder  was  much 
enraged  by  the  Ufe  of  Spirit  of  Hartfhorn,  bezo- 
ardic  Tinctures,  and  volatile  oily, Salts,  which 
added  Flame  to  the  Fuel,  though  thefe  Medicines 
are  neverthelefs  a  frequent  Cure  for  Convulfions  in 
Children.    But  Sydenham,  who  was  aPerfon  other- 
wife  averfe  to  chemical  Medicines,  confefies  that 
fometimes  there  'raged  a  kind  of  Small-Pox  ac- 
companied with  livid  Veficles,  containing  a  foetid 
Water,  which  being  let  out,  the  fubjacent  Fjefh 
appeared  very  black  ;  but  of  this  Kind  of  the 
Small-Pox,  he  could  not  recover  one  Patient,  till 
he  fell  upon  the  Ufe  of  Spirit  of  Vitriol  given  to 
the  Patient  in  thin  Ale,  or  good  fmall  Beer.    It  is 
an  egregious  Error  in  Hehncnt,  to  think  that  Acids 
are  always  inimical  to  human  Nature  ;  nor  do  I 
think  Helmont  intends  this,  as  many  of  his  Difci- 
ples  would  have  us  believe   for  in  another  place  he 
fays,  that  Spirit  of  Sulphur  by  the  Bell  extin- 
guifhes  Fevers  as  Water  extinguifhes  Fire,  and 
therefore  highly  recommends  the  fame  againft 
Thirft,  and  to  prevent  Putrefaction  in  Fevers. 
But  that  the  Plague  inclines  the  Humours  to  an 
alcaline  Nature,  is  evident  from  the  (linking  Smell 
and  black  colour  of  the  dead  Bodies,  which  in 
about  twelve  Hours  after  Death  are  all  over  per- 
fectly black.    Thefe  mod  acute  Difeafes  deftroy 
hardly  any  but  the  mod  robuft  and  exercifed  Per- 
fons,  fparing  Children  and  weak  People    but  for 
melancholy  and  dropfical  People,  they  are  rather 
recovered  in  the  time  of  the  Plague. 


r 


§•  9 1 3-     Signs  of  Difeafes.        1 5  5 


§.  913.  The  Signs  of  an  acid1  Acrimony, 
are  an  acid  Smell  in  the  Breath,  and  Tafte  in 
the  Mouth  ;  a  pale  Colour  in  the  Face,  in  the 
Corner  of  the  Eyes,  Lips,  Mouth,  Gums, 
and  Fauces ;  a  flow  Erofion  of  the  Skin  with 
Palenefs,  frequent  Third:  but  not  violent,  oft- 
en accompanied  with  a  great  Appetite  and 
quick  Digeftion ;  a  ftrong  Inclination  to  eat 
earthy  1  and  abforbent  Matters ;  Gripings  1  in 
the  Bowels,  attended  with  a  Palenefs  and 
Coldnefs  of  the  Body,  green  griping  Stools  o/ 
an  acid  Smell,  Urine  acrid,  as  in  a  Strangury, 
thick,  white  4,  and  depofiting  a  copious,  thick 
Sediment ;  much  Sweat s,  of  an  acid  Nature, 
a  loofe  Skin,  the  Blood  thick,  and  either  pale 
or  black-coloured;^^6  Inflammations  flow- 
ly  advancing;  and  laftly,  a  Relief  of  thefe 
Symptoms  from  theUfe  of  fuchThings  which 
are  oppofite  7  to  Acids. 

1  An  acid  Acrimony,  Which  is  fo  much  accufed 
by  SilviuS)  Tachemus,  and  their  Followers,  does 
fometimes  caufe  Erofions  and  other  Mifchiefs  in 
the  Body,  but  not  near  fo  frequently  as  an  alcaiine 
Acrimony  ;  however  it  muft  be  owned,  thac  an 
Acid  too  plentifully  or  conftantly  ufed,  fo  as  to 
enter  into  the  Blood  without  depofiting  its  acid 
Nature,  may  be  very  injurious. 

1  Thus  Children,  efpecially  weak  Girls,  eat 
Mortar,  Cinders,  &c.  to  obtund  the  offending 
Acid. 

3  The  Fasces  never  fmell  four,  as  long  as  there 
is  a  fufficient  Quantity  of  Bile  fent  iniu  the  In- 
terlines. 


156        Signs  of  Difeafes.    §.  914. 

4  So  white,  that  it  leaves  a  Stain  upon  the  Earth 
like  Milk. 

5  Acids  excite  Sweat,  and  more  efpecially  Vi- 
negar is  a  great  Sudorific. 

6  Hippocrates  of  old  obferves,  that  thofe  who 
have  acid  Belchings  are  not  fubjecl:  to  Pleurifies. 

7  As  Venice  or  Grecian  Soap  are  Abforbents, 
(Sc. 

§.  914.  The  Signs  of  a  muriatic  or  ammo- 
niacal  Acrimony,  are  a  brackifh  or  fait  Tafte 
in  the  Mouth,  a  flow  Erofion,  Itching  and 
Rednefs  of  the  Skin  j  continual  and  great 
I'hirjl  \  hardly  to  be  appeafedj  Drinefs  of  the 
Flefh,  and  Rigidity  of  the  flexible  Membranes 
and  Ligaments;  a  very  fait  or  brackifh  Urine  % 
but  flowly  inclined  to  Putrefaftion,  depofiting 
a  thick  Sediment,  and  having  a  thin  oily  Skin 
floating  upon  its  Surface;  and  laftly,  a  Relief 
of  thefe  Symptoms  by  the  Ufe  of  watery  Li- 
quors and  Aliments. 

1  This  more  efpecially  arifes  from  a  muriatic  or 
faline  Matter,  fuch  as  that  of  Sea-falt  combined 
with  the  putrid  Flefn  of  Animals-,  as  alfo  a  rancid 
Oil  and  Salt,  which  in  fomeMeafure  putrefied  and 
conjoined,  deftroy  the  Appetite  to  Food.  The 
Blood  of  fuch  People  repels  Water  almoft  as  much 
as  Water  is  repelled  by  a  red-hot  Iron.  Thefe  are 
affifted  by  mild,  acid  and  faponaceous  Medicines 
and  Aliments.  To  thefe  Diforders  the  Sailors  are 
moft  liable,  who  live  a  long  time  upon  fait  Pro- 
vifions  in  the  midft  of  the  fait  Vapours  of  the  Sea, 
and  drink  Water,  which  by  long  keeping  is  be- 
come replenilhed  with  fmall  W orms  of  various 
kinds, 

A  green* 


§.915-     Signs  of  Difeafes.  157 

*  A  green-coloured  and  oily  Urine  with  a  Skin 
upon  its  Surface,  which  is  not  the  Sign  of  a  Con- 
fumption  but  of  Acrimony,  from  whence  a  Con- 
lumption  may  follow. 

§.915.  The  Signs  of  a  putrid,  oily  1  Acri- 
mony are  a  burnt  foetid  Smell,  a  bitter  rancid  * 
Tafte  in  the  Mouth,  like  that  from  rancid 
Oil  or  Lard  of  a  nidorous  or  rufty  Smell,  and 
inflanmig1  the  Fauces;  an  inflammatory  and 
black  coloured  Erofion  of  the  Skin  ;  Sicknefs 
at  Stomach,  a  Lofs  of  Appetite  or  an  entire 
Abhorrence  4  or  Averfion  to  [Food  ;  intenfe 
Thirft  hardly  to  be  allayed  the  inteftinal 
Faeces  fat  or  oily,  extremely  fcetid  and  exco- 
riating in  their  Difcharge  -y  a  high  coloured 
fcetid  and  frothy  Urine  \  fmall  in  Quantity 
and  hot  or  cauftic;  a  Drynefs  of  the  Skin  and 
Mouth,  with  a  Foulnefs  and  ill  Smell  in  the 
latter  •  the  Blood  thick  or  aduft,  and  fubjedt  to 
create  acute,  violent  and  Jlubbom  6  Inflamma- 
tions, Suppurations  of  the  like  kind  and  mofl 
fcetid  Gangrenes ;  and  laftly,  a  Relief 7  of  all 
the  Complaints  from  the  ufe  of  fuch  things  as 
are  cooling,  acid,  watery. and  faponaceous. 

4k  r  -J .  -r  **' 

1  Which  is  both  more  frequent  and  much  worTe 
than  an  alcaline  Acrimony,  as  it  is  more  difficult 
to  remove. 

1  Hence  it  is  that  Patients  afflicted  with  the  mod 
acute  Difeafes,  imagine  by  their  Tafte  all  forts  of 
Flefti  to  be  putrid. 

3  If  a  Perfon  has  eat  too  much  fat  Bacon,  in 
abjut  fix  Hours  after,  a  rancid  Oil  will  rife  up  in 

his 


Signs' of  Difeafes.    §.  916. 

his  Throat,  of  a  cauftic,  bitter  and  naufeousTafte, 
and  flaming  when  fpit  in  the  Fire. 

4  A  fmall  Portion  of  a  rotten  Egg  is  an  im- 
mediate Remedy  to  deftroy  Hunger •,  for  this  will 
not  only  caufe  Sicknefs  of  the  Stomach,  but  ter- 
rible Vomiting  and  a  deftructive  Fever.  In  this 
Cafe  many  Phyficians  accufe  the  Bile,  which  yet  is 
often  not  culpable,  unlefs  it  happens  to  putrefy 
together  with  the  Aliments  themlelves. 

s  The  Colour  of  the  Urine  is  entirely  derived 
from  the  Oil-,  and  therefore  a  more  high  coloured 
Urine  denotes  a  greater  Acrimony  and  Attenuation 
of  the  Oil. 

6  Such  Peop'e  fuffer  moft  by  acute  Difeafes 
for'  the  Saks  and  Oils  by  their  Acrimony  obftruct, 
inflame  and  deftroy  the  fmall  Veflfels.  You  cannot 
apply  a  worfe  Remedy  to  cutaneous  Inflamma- 
tions than  rancid  Lard,  or  Oil  of  Hartfhorn,  which 
laft  has  been  rendered  rancid  by  Diftillation. 

7  In  this  Cafe,  the  Oxymel  of  Hippocrates  is  a 
principal  Remedy. 

§.916.  Signs  of  too  great  Thinnefs  or 
Fluidity  1  of  the  Humours  are  too  great  a  Dis- 
charge by  the  Sandtorian  Perlpiration,  Sweat, 
Urine  and  Saliva,  with  loofe  Stools;  Leannefs, 
Weaknefs,  and  wafting  of  the  whole  Body ; 
Thirft  and  Irritability-  laftly,  Relief  from  the 
ufe  of  fuch  things  as  infpiffate. 

1  This  is  the  true  Tabes  Anglicanus,  which  is 
fo  frequently  to  be  obferved  among  the  Gentry  of 
England,  whofe  Humours  being  naturally  very 
fluid,  are  (till  more  diffolved  by  the  Air  and  Diet, 
whence  they  become  too  eafily  moveable,  while 
in  the  mean  time  their  Bodies  are  very  tender,  and 

if 


§.  9T7*     Signs  of  Difeafes.  159 

if  not  ftrengthened  by  Exercife,  they  either  melt 
away  in  nocturnal  Sweats,  or  are  deftroyed  by  pro- 
fufe  Spitting,  and  other  Evacuations.  Such  are 
never  to  be  cured  but  by  rendering  the  Blood  of  a 
more  compact  and  firm  Texture  ;  which  can  only 
be  performed  by  riding  and  other  Exercifes, 
without  which,  neither  Milk  nor  the  moft  nou- 
rifhing  Diet  can  be  of  Service.  But  to  adminifter 
fuch  things  to  thefe  as  difiblve  the  Humours,  is 
an  Error  of  the  moft  pernicious  Confequence.  So 
long  as  the  vital  Powers  continue  ftrong,  too  great 
a  Fluidity  of  the  Humours  is  theCaufe  of  Lean- 
nefs;  but  when  this  is  accompanied  with  a  Weak- 
nefsof  the  Heart  and  Arteries,  the  Patient  becomes 
leucophlegmatic  and  dropfical. 

§.  917.  The  Signs  of  too  great  a  Tenacity  1 
or  Thicknefs.  in  the  Humours,  are  Tumors, 
Pains,  Anxieties ;  the  Circulation;  Secretion 
and  Excretion  obftruded  or  diminiflied  ;  a 
Lentor  or  Glueynefs  of  the  feveral  circulating 
Humours,  with  thofe  derived  from  them  by 
the  Secretions  and  Excretions.  If  together  with 
thefe  Signs  there  is  a  manifeft  Coldnefs  of  the 
Habit,  it  denotes  a  phlegmatic  Glutinofity  of 
the  Humours ;  but  if  it  is  accompanied  with 
intenfe  Heat,  it  fignifies  an  inflammatory  Spif- 
fitude  of  the  Blood  and  Humours. 

1  Which  too  great  Tenacity  of  the  Humours 
may  arife  as  well  from  too  little  as  too  great  Mo- 
tion of  them,  and  as  well  from  Heat  as  Cold;  and 
yet  muft  the  Method  of  Cure  be  very  different, 
according  totheDiverfity  of  theCaufe  from  whence 
it  is  derived.  If  the  Blood  is  poflefTed  with  a 
phlogiftic  Tenacity  from  inflammatory  Caufes, 

which 


160        Signs  of  DifeafeL  §, 

which  by  too  violent  Motion  deftroy  the  Liver 
and  Lungs,  in  that  Cafe,  Bleeding  and  Diluents 
will  be  ufeful's  but  the  fame  Method  of  Cure  be- 
ing applied  to  a  phlegmatic  Vifcidity  of  the  Hu- 
mours, will  increafe  the  Diforder  to  the  great 
hazard  of  the  Patient* 

§.918.  From  what  has  been  faid  you  may 
be  likewife  able  to  difcover  the  Signs  of  Water, 
Salt,  Oil,  or  Earth  predominating.  But  if 
along  with  the  forementioned  Signs  of  Acri- 
mony, there  is  alfo  the  Signs  of  a  ftrong  vis 
Vita?  or  Circulation,  it  then  denotes  a  very 
fpeedy  1  and  ample  Deftru&ion  of  the  Texture, 
both  of  the  Solids  and  Fluids ;  as  the  reverie 
denotes  the  contrary. 

1  When  there  is  a  great  Spiftitude  of  the  Blood 
in  an  ardent  Fever,  accompanied  with  a  violent 
Increafe  of  its  Motion,  in  that  Cafe  being  impacted 
into  the  fmalleft  VefTels  of  the  Brain  and  Lungs, 
it  muft  foon  deftroy  the  Patient ;  hence  therefore 
it  will  be  convenient  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  to  attenuate 
the  Humours  by  faponaceous  Liquors  and  Garden- 
fruits,  a  mixture  of  Vinegar  with  Honey,  and  Sal 
Prunell. 

§.  919.  From  well  confidering  all  that  has 
been  faid,  we  may  be  able  to  underftand  the 
Signs  of  Malignity  1  in  acute  Difeafes ;  for  as 
this  Malignity  denotes  a  rnoft  fpeedy  Ten- 
dency of  theDifeafe  to  Death,  the  Signs  there- 
of may  be  collected:  1.  From  the  violent 
and  fwift  Action  of  the  Caufes  applied  to 
the  Body,  as  in  the  Plague,  Poifons  %  Fire  \ 

putrid 


$.  g  1 9.      *SV§7;tf  of  DifeafeS.        1 6 11 

putrid  Contagion,  &c.    2.  From  a  Know- 
ledge of  the  Nature  of  the  raging  epidemical* 
Diitemper,  difcovered  by   Obfervation.  3. 
From  a  Knowledge  of  the  natural  and  morbid 
Difpofition  s  or  Temperature  of  the  Patient, 
4.  From  the  ftubborn  Refiftance  of  the  Dif- 
eafe  again  ft  all  kinds  of  Remedies 6,  tho'  pof- 
feffed  of  a  ftrong  alterative  Power.    5.  From 
the  bad  Symptoms  7  which  more  efpecially 
denote  the  vital  Actions  to  be  much  injured  ; 
thechief  of  which  are  inextinguifhable Tbir/l*9 
Drinefs,  FoulnefSj  Whitenels,  Yellownefs,  a 
brown  or  black  Colour,  more  efpecially  with 
a  Scurf  or  Cru/l9  in  the  Mouth,  Noftrils, 
Fauces,  Tongue  and  Palate  ;  an  entire  Lofs 
of  Appetite,  violent  and  continued  Sicknefs 
at  Stomach,  with  Loathing,  intenfe  Vomit- 
ing io,  Hiccup,  acute  Pain  and  Anxiety  in 
the  Region  of  the  Stomach,  a  Vomiting  of 
a  pure  ferous  Liquor,  of  Bile  or  of  fome  putrid 
Humour ;  loofe  Stools  difcharging  nothing  but 
fetid  Humours,  with  Fibres,  Caruncles,  or 
Membranes,  much  weakening  inftead  of  re- 
lieving the  Patient;  a  very  thin  Urine,  red, 
frothy,   fmall  in  Quantity,   and  often  dis- 
charged;  cold,  clammv  Sweats  11  gathering 
in  Drops  about  the  Head  and  Neck,  ill 
Smelling,  and  affording  no  Relief  to  the 
Patient ;  a  quick,  weak,  hard,  unequal,  and 
intermitting  Pulfe ;  a  quick,  laborious,  ob- 
ftructed,  coughing,  painful,  or  deep  Relpira- 
tion  ;  a  Depravity  of  the  Mind,  Delirium, 
Raving,  or  Stupidity  ->  the  Sleep  "  abolifhed, 

M  inter- 


162        Signs  of  Difeafes.     §>  919, 

interrupted,  not refreiliing,  troublefome,  orelfe 

perpetual  ;  [pitting  I?  of  Blood;  bloody  Urine  l\ 
or  bloody  Stools  ;  a  fmall  dripping  of  black- 
coloured  Blood  from  the  Nofe  15  ;  unufual 
trembling  of  the  Tongue,  Lips  and  Hands; 
violent  Convulfions,  with  continual  Anxie- 
tiesx6>  and  Tellings  of  the  Head  and  Limbs 17 ; 
a  lyihg  helplefs  upon  the  Back  with  \hzFeet 18 
hanging  carelefsly  out  of  the  Bed,  as  if  the 
Patient  knew  not  of  their  being  naked ;  the 
.Eyes  watering  fpontaneoufly,  looking  forrow- 
ful,  wandering  I9,  fixed,  dry  and  unpolijhed 
or  dujty 10 ;  an  infenfible  Difcharge  of  the 
F^ces*1  or  Urine;  a  catching  or  fumbling  of 
the  Bed~cioaths*l>  and  a  diligent  or  laborious 
feeling  and  groping  about;  the  Appearance 
of  Purple  Spots  23  ;  imperfect  and  unrelieving 
Crifes,  with  unufual 24  Alterations  of  any 
kind. 

1  By  Malignity  we  underftand  only  the  great 
Danger  of  Death  ;  and  Death  we  know  is  a  CefTa- 
tion  of  the  Pleart's  Motion  :  and  therefore  Malig- 
nity in  Difeafes  appears  from  all  thofe  Signs  by 
which  we  difcover  the  Patient  to  be  in  Danger 
of  Death.  Sydenham  indeed  would  have  fain  ex- 
punged the  Ufe  ot  the  Term  Malignity,  not  from 
any  vain  Scruple,  but  becaufe  that  Term  was  com- 
monly mifunderftood  to  import  fomething  of  an 
imaginary  Poifon  in  Difeafes,  againft  which,  fu- 
dorinc  and  alexipharmic  Medicines  were  com- 
monly employed,  for  the  mod  part  with  fatal 
Events. 

~  Suffocation  with  the  Fumes  of  Arfenic  is  one 
of  the  worft  "Poifons. 

Lighten- 


S.  919.     Signs  of  DifeafeS.  163 

3  Lightening  kills  in  the  Twinkling  of  an  Eye. 

4  Namely,  epidemical  Difeales  which  invade 
Animals  ot  a  particul.ir  Clafs ;  for.  one  kind  of 
Plague  is  peculiar  to  Swine,  another  to  Sheep,  and 
a  third  to  Mankind  :  for  it  is  very  rarely  if  ever 
that  all  kinds  of  Animais  are  obferved  to  be  in- 
vaded at  the  fame  time.  This  is  a  neccfiary  Ob- 
fervation*  becaufe  there  is  often  no  Sign  of  Malig- 
nity in  the  moft  fatal  PeiUicnce,  tho'  the  difeafed 
loon  expire,  and  all  the  Humours  feem  to  be  fud- 
deniy  coagulated.  Hence  we  learn,  that  Dinger 
is  to  be  expc&ed,  not  only  from  the  prefent  Signs 
or  Symptoms  in  the  Patient,  but  alfo  from  a 
Confideration  of  the  Nature  of  the  prevailing 
Diftemper. 

..  i  The  Plague  rages  in  none  more  than  in  People 
of  a  ftrong  and  changeable  Habit  or  Diipoficioa 
of  Body  ;  and  while  it  tieltroys  the  plethoric  and 
robuft,  it  often  relieves  the  weak  and  mciancholy. 

6  As  when  the  proper  Medicines  do  not  produce 
their jjfual  Effects,  when  Purges  have  no  Opera- 
tion, and  Clyiters  do  not  move  the  Bowels,  ic  is 
a  Sign  of  great  Malignity  •,  and  that  trie  vital 
Powers  are  extremely  weakened  almoft  unto  Death. 

7  Young  Phyficia:is  frequently  near  old  Prac- 
titioners called  into  Confutation  with  them,  pro* 
nouncing  that  in  the  prefent  Cafe  there  is  Malig- 
nity ;  at  which  Prefage  the  junior  ought  not  to 
be  furprized,  fince  it  is  derived  not  from  their 
better  Knowledge  of  the  Nature  of  the  Difeafe, 
but  from  their  frequent  Experience  of  fatal  Events 
under  the  like  Circumftances.  Thus  they  know 
(a  Pofteriori)  from  the  Effects  what  Malignity  is; 
but  (a  Priori)  from  the  Caufes,  both  young  and 
bid  are  equally  ignorant. 

8  So  great  a  Third,  that  although  the  Body  be 
filled  ready  to  burft  with  watery  Liquors,  yet  the 

M  2  Thitft 


164       Signs  of  Difeafes.     §.  91^ 

Third  is  not  relieved.  Such  is  the  Effect  of  being 
bit  by  the  ^Egyptian  Serpent  Dipfas,  in  which  cafe 
the  greateft  hope  of  Relief  confifts  in  abftaining 
from  Drink. 

9  Thefe  are  not  mortal  in  themfelves,  but  only 
denote  as  a  Sign,  that  the  Humours  ftagnate  in  the 
imalleft  Veffels.  But  this  Stagnation  takes  place 
not  only  in  the  Mouth,  but  alfo  in  the  Interlines, 
which  have  nearly  the  fame  Fabric  with  the  Fauces ; 
as  alfo  in  the  Liver,  Lungs,  and  Brain,  whence 
Death  muft  neceffarily  follow. 

10  Hippocrates  feared  no  Symptom  more  than  a 
Vomiting  of  the  fincere  or  fimple  Humours,  as 
-when  only  Bile,  Blood  and  Lymph  are  ejected 
unmixed ;  which  demonftrate  that  the  other  Paf- 
fages  are  Ihut  up,  and  that  this  way  only  remains 
open. 

11  The  common  People  are  fond  of  Sweats, 
and  rank  them  among  the  good  Signs  \  but  it 
ought  to  be  remembered  that  the  Patients  who- 
have  had  their  Skin  extremely  dry  for  feveral 
Days  together,  do  neverthelefs  melt  into  a  profufe 
Sweat  a  few  Hours  before  Death ;  and  that  this 
Sweat  is  not  critical,  but  from  a  paralytic  Relax- 
ation of  the  fmalleft  Veffels,  incapable  of  retaining, 
rheir  Humours. 

ia  This  is  a  Sign  of  Inflammation  in  the  Brain, 
which  is  fatal  when  once  it  is  extended  into  the  Ce- 
rebellum. 

1 3  Sydenham  confefles  that  he  never  eould  re- 
cover  any  who  had  a  Spitting  of  Blood  from  the 
Lungs  in  an  acute  Difeafe  •,  nor  has  he  more  than 
one  Inftance  of  a  Patient  recovered  after  having; 
this  SymptomN 

4  In  acute  Difeafes  this  is  always  a  fatal  Sign, 
from  the  Violence  of  the  Diftemper  nor.  do  F 
remember  one  to  have  recovered  after  this  Sym- 
ptom, .  This- 


/ 


§.  9 1 9*      Signs  of  Difeafes.  165 

»s  This  is  a  Sign  that  the  Blood  being  thick 
and  inflammatory,  is  urged  with  fo  great  a  Force 
as  to  burft  the  VeGels,  yet  that  it  is  fo  tenacious 
as  to  be  incapable  of  flowing  through  the  ruptured 
Veffels.  Hence  Hippocrates  always  condemns  the 
flight  Bleedings  at  the  Nofe. 

16  This  Anxiety  arifes  from  the  Blood  accu- 
mulated and  (lopped in  itsCourfe  through  the  large 
VefTels  about  the  Heart  and  Liver. 

■7  Such  a  Failing  of  the  Limbs  is  a  moft  dan- 
gerous Sign,  efpecially  if  the  Patient  is  not  able 
to  (land  upon  his  Legs  for  the  leafl  fpace  of  time. 

18 1  have  often  obferved  and  remarked  it  to  be 
fatal,  when  the  Patients  being  in  right  Mind  and 
told  of  their  Feet  being  out  of  Bed,  have  anfwered 
that  they  knew  nothing  of  it.  For  it  is  a  Sign 
that  the  Mufcles  are  not  governed  by  the  Mind ; 
and  that  therefore  the  Commerce  between  the 
upper  and  lower  Parts  is  interrupted,  whence  an 
Infenfibility  of  the  latter  enlues.  The  fame  is  alfo 
the  Opinion  of  Hippocrates  and  Sydenham  concern- 
ing this  Symptom. 

19  Whether  the  Patient  continually  looks  every 
way  with  Eyes  rowling  about,  or  has  them  fixed 
upon  one  Object,  or  towards  one  Corner,  it  is 
equally  a  fatal  Sign.  If  you  afk  them  how  they 
do,  they  anfwer,  they  know  not;  or  elfe,  that 
they  are  well. 

*°  This  is  a  moft  fatal  Sign,  as  denoting,  either 
that  the  Eye-lids,  which  are  naturally  fo  extremely 
fenfible;  are  now  not  affected  by  the  Duff.,  or  elfe, 
that  the  Humour  which  comes  from  the  glandu- 
lar Cilia  or  Margins  of  the  Eye-lids,  is  no  longer 
expreffed  from  the  Eye  by  the  Motion  of  its 
Lids. 

^Except  they  mould  come  away  thus  from 
M  3  fome 


1 66        Signs  of  Difeafes.      §.  919, 

fome  manifeft  Caufe,  as  from  a  Palfy  of  the 

Sphincters. 

"  They  catch  at  fomething  in  the  Air,  and  up- 
on afking  them  at  what,  they  anfwer,  they  know 
not.  An  Initance  of  this,  Galen  relates  in  himfelf. 
When  he  lay  ill,  the  Phyfieians  who  attended  him 
faid  to  each  other,  Do  you  not  fee  that  our  Clau- 
dius gathers  the  Wooll  of  the  Bed-cloaths  ?  which 
he  over-hearing,  cried  out,  Do  I  catch  at  the  Bed- 
cloaths?  Therefore  do  you  preferve  me  from  the 
phrenzy  which  is  threatened.  This  is  always  a  Sign 
of  a  pr^efent  or  approaching  Delirium. 

23  Spots  in  the  Skin,  like  thofe  from  Aqua  fortis, 
though  unattended  with  other  malignant  Signs,  are 
always  obferved  fatal,  as  Hippocrates,  Sydenham  ^ 
and  Bkmerbroeck  teftify.  For  they  are  the  Confe- 
quence  of  an  Erofion,  or  Rupture  of  the  fmalleft 
VefTels,  which  we  mav  reafonably  judge  to  be 
likewife  prefent  in  the  Vi fee ra  but  in  chronica} 
Difeafes/  fuch  as  the  Scurvy,  they  import  no  great 
Danger.  Biood  fpit  up  from  the  Lungs  in  thefe 
acute  Difeafes,  has  been  likewife  conftaritly  ob- 
ferved a  fatal  Sign  by  Sydenham. 

*4  Whether  in  the  Motions,  in  the  Sweat, 
Stools,  or  Actions  of  the  Body,  fuch  an  Altera- 
tion from  their  ufual  and  natural  State,  is  always 
a  fatal  Sign.  When  a  Man,  who  being  well,  was 
follicitous  about  lofing  his  beloved  Children,  and 
his  Wife,  now  neglects  every  thing,  and  thinks 
of  nothing,  but  being  in  a  Manner  confeious  of 
Death,  defpifes  the  beloved  Things  which  he  is  to 
relinquifh,  it  is  alfo  a  ratal  Sign  •  infomuch,  that; 
the  common  People  convert  thefe  Changes  into  a 
Proverb,  and  call  them  an  Enlightening  before 
Death.  From  hence  we  know,  that  the  Brain 
fcarcely  thinks  or  performs  its  Office,  but  is  greatly 

change^ 


§.921.      Signs  of  Difeafes.  167 

changed  towards  Death.  All  thefe  Signs  denote 
the  Malignity  to  be  greater  in  Proportion,  as  more 
of  them  concur  together  in  the  fame  Patient  \  and 
the  Reverfe. 

§.  920.  Acute  Difeafes  are  judged  fuperable, 
either  by  Nature  or  Art,  from  the  ^>fence  of 
^thefe  Symptoms,  (§.  91 9.)  and  the  Reverfe. 

§.  921.  The  Doctrine  of  Crudity  \  Con- 
coction, Crifis,  and  changing  of  a  Difeafe  in- 
to Health,  fome  other  Diforder,  or  Death,  arc 
the  Objects  and  Signs  of  Prognoftication  in 
Difeafes. 

1  This  is  a  Subject  of  the  laft  Importance  to  be 
confidered  in  Phyfic,  and  is  that  which  properly 
diftinguifhes  the  rational  Phyfician  from  an  Em- 
piric. The  Confideration  of  this  was  both  begun 
perfected  by  Hippocrates.  He  confidered, 
that  we  are  altogether  ignorant  of  what  is  per- 
formed within  the  B  dy  of  the  living  Patient, 
cher  in  Health,  or  difeafed  •,  and  that  we  are 
only  capable  ot  knowing  thofe  Changes  which 
Stppear  in  Difeafes,  different  from  the  Appearances 
which  w  aiually  obferve  in  Health.  Thefe  laft 
Changes,  or  Appearances,  are  the  Effects  of  Life 
remaining  ;  but  the  Caufe  exciting  the  morbid 
E  Fects,  is  that  latent  Entity  which  we  term  the 
Caufe  of  the  Difeafe.  No  one  can  refolve,  fup- 
n. irate,  or  difcharge  the  Matter  of  a  Pieurify; 
but  a  true  Phyfician  obferves  all  the  Appearances 
of  Life  and  Health,  of  the  Difeafe  and  Nature 
changing  it,  however,  arifing  from  a  Caufe  un- 
known. Hippocrates  does  not  appear  to  have  known 
any  thing  which  we  do  not  know,  only  he  had 

M  4  t% 


1 63        Signs  of  Difeafes.  §.922, 

this  Peculiarity,  that  he  very  accurately  remarked 
the  Appearances  and  Events  of  each  Difeafe.  All 
this  is  as  fimple  and  obvious  as  the  Alphabet  ^ 
and  therefore  they  are  greatly  miftaken  who  fearch 
for  Myfteries  in  Hippocrates. 

§.  922.  The  morbific  Matter  1  in  a  Difeafe 
is  faich  lo  be  crude,  when  its  great  Quantity, 
Figure,  Cohefion,  Mobility,  and  Inactivity, 
is  fuch  as  makes  it  the  Caafe  %  producing  0? 
increafing  the  Diforder1. 

1  When  a  Difeafe  is  prefent,  we  are  here  to  un-r 
derftand  accompanied  with  a  morbific  Matter  ;  for 
there  are  fome  Difeafes  without  any  fuch  Matter, 
as  a  mod  fwift  Motion  of  the  Mufcles  continued 
even  to  Death.  Such  Difeafes  are  not  related 
either  to  Concoction  or  Crifis,  nor  do  they  be* 
long  to  this  Place. 

4  This  is  of  two  Kinds-,  namely,  1.  That 
which  lying  concealed  in  the  Body  produces  the 
Difeafes:  1.  That  which  arifes  from  the  Difeafe 
as  another  Caufe.  Of  the  firft,  we  have  an  In- 
ftance,  in  phlogiftic  or  inflammatory  Blood  pro- 
ducing a  Pleunfy  ;  and  of  the  la  11,  we  have  an 
Inflance,  in  the  purulent  Matter  formed  after  the 
Pleunfy. 

3  The  Ancients  intend  nothing  more  than  this 
by  the  term  Crudity  \  the  Caufes  of  which  may 
bealmofl  innumerable,  in  proportion  to  the  Num- 
bers of  crude  Matters,  whether  fluid  or  folid; 
"When  there  is  too  great  a  Stricture  in  the  folid 
Parts,  that  alone  may  be  the  Matter  of  the  Dif- 
eafe, and  the  State  of  Crudity  may  be  faid  to 
continue  as  long  as  the  Stricture.  Young  Phyr 
Ikians  often  underftand  the  Term  Crudity  to  point 

put 


§.  g  2  4-     Signs  of  *  Difeafes.  i6g 

put  and  determine  the  particular  Nature  of  the 
Pileafe,  but  in  this  they  are  mlich  miftaken ;  for 
the  Caufes  of  Crudhy  may  be  almoft  infinite,  as 
acrimonious,  thick,  or  watery  Fluids;  or,  as 
Hippocrates  fpeaks,  a  Redundancy  of  fweet,  bitter, 
fait  or  acid  ;  nor  can  the  Nature  of  Crudity  be 
determined  in  general  any  farther  than  by  theie 
Marks,  whence  the  Difeafe  of  whatever\ind  may 
remit.  Even  the  moft  healthy  Blood itielf  will  caufe 
Difeafe  and  be  crude,  if  it  abounds  too  much  in  the 
Veins  of  a  Perfon  weakened  by  Difeafe.  Hippo* 
crates  understands  nothing  myfterious  in  the  Term 
Crudity,  only  he  intends  it  for  a  general  Term  to 
comprife  every  morbid  Caufe  in  the  Body  ;  de- 
riving it  from  Garden-fruits,  which  we  call  crude, 
until  they  have  acquired  their  moft  perfect  and 
agreeable  Difpofition. 

§.  923.  Butfucha  State  of  the  Difeafe,  in 
which  the  morbific  Caufe  continues  as  before-? 
mention'd,  is  termed  the  State  of  Crudity  of 
the  Difeafe  3  and  this  takes  place  as  well  in 
Difeafes  where  the  whole  Mafs  of  Humours 
is  infected,  as  in  thofe  Difeafes  where  only 
one  particular  Part  or  Humour  is  injured  by 
fuch  a  Matter. 

§.  924.  What  has  been  faid  of  the  Humours 
with  refpedt  to  Crudity  \  is  likewife  true  of 
the  Solids z,  lb  far  as  thefe  laft  are  dilbrdered 
by  the  Fluids, 

1  Crudity  in  a  Wound  continues  ns  long  as  the 
Lips  are  drawn  afunder  by  the  contracting  Fibres  , 
and  Concoction  takes  place  when  all  Inflammatioa 
is  removed* 

So 


X  70        Signs  of  Difeafes*      §.  925. 

*  So  long  as  thofe  Appearances  are  obfervable 
which  refult.  from  the  Difeafe. 

§,  925.  This  Crudity  in  Difeafes  (§.  922. 
to  925.)  is  known,  1.  From  the  Intensity  or 
Violence  1  of  the  Difeafe  lafting  or  increafing. 
2.  From  the  continual  Increafe  of  the  Sym- 
ptoms. 3.  From  the  Exercife  of  the  Fun- 
ctions being  as  yet  much  injured.  4.  But 
above  all,  it  is  beft  known  from  the  P^ecefiion 
of  the  circulating  and  fecretory  Humours,  as 
alfo  of  the  Excreta  2  or  Excrements,  deviating 
in  Quantity,  Quality  \  or  both;  from  their 
hjealthy  State ;  hence  this  State  of  the  Difeafe 
3s  pointed  out  in  the  Sweat,  Tears,  Mucus, 
Saliva,  Matter  fpit  up,  or  Humours  diieharged 
by  vomiting  the  Bile,  inteftinal  Faeces  Urine, 
Ichor,  Matter,  Blood,  Menfes3  Lochia,  lilk, 
Abfcefs,  Aphtha?,  &c, 

1  In  a  Pleurify  the  Matter  continues  crude  fa 
long  as  the  Difeafe  and  its  Symptoms  are  increas- 
ing. 

1  A  Diarrhaea  is  crude  fo  long  as  it  continues 
exceffive. 

3  We  have  already  explained  the  Quantity  and 
Qualities  of  the  Excreta  agreeacit  lo  Health  ;  but 
if  any  of  thefe  (hall  deviate  in  thefe  Refpe&s  from 
what  is  ufual  in  Health,  we  from  thence  difcover 
Difeafe.  From  hence  we  eafily  conclude  that  the 
Difeafe  is  more  crude  in  proportion  as  all  the  Qua- 
lities of  the  Difeafe  recede  more  from  a  State  of 
Jleakh, 


§.  926* 


§.  927*      Signs  of  Difeafes.  171 


§.  926.  But  if  the  morbific  Matter  firft 
crude  (§.  922.)  is  fo  changed  either  by  the 
Actions  of  Life  \  its  own  Nature,  or  convex 
nient  Medicines,  as  to  become  lefs  injurious, 
more  healthy,  and  confequcntly  difpofed  to 
abate  the  Violence  of  the  Difeafe  by  the 
Change  thus  wrought  in  the  Quantity,  Fi- 
gure, Cohefion,  Mobility  or  Inactivity  in  the 
Matter  of  the  Difeafe,  it  is  then  faid  to  be 
concerted  \ 

1  For  the  vital  Actions,  remaining  work  upon 
the  Matter  of  the  Difeafe  ;  and  if  the  vital  Powers 
are  abfent,  the  Body  is  nothing  more  than  a  Car- 
cafe. 

2  Crude  Humours  are  fometimes  changed  from 
their  own  natural  Difpofition,  as  fluid  and  extra- 
yafated  Blood,  being  firft  thickened,  afterwards 
diflblves  and  becomes  more  fluid  than  before,  only 
by  a  gentle  Warmth.  But  we  term  the  morbific 
Matter  concocted,  not  from  any  Change  which 
it  receives  from  Heat,  but  from  the  Reftitution  of 
the  injured  Function.  This  is  all  which  Hippo- 
fttztef'underftands  by  the  Nature  of  Concoction, 
except  when  the  concocted  Crudities  lofe  thofe 
Qualities  which  denominated  them  crude,  and 
neverthelefs  they  continue  productive  of  Dif? 
eafes. 


§.  927.  But  this  State  of  the  Difeafe  in 
which  thofe  Changes  (§.  926.)  are  thus  made, 
is  termed  the  Concottion  \  Maturation  or  Di- 
geflion  of  the  morbific  Matter, 

The 


1J2        Signs  of  Difeafes*     §.  928, 

1  The  Concoction  or  Affimilation  of  a  preter-' 
natural  crude  Matter  to  be  lefs  injurious  or  inof- 
fenfive  with  refpect  to  our  own  Nature;  that  is 
to  fay,  when  all  the  Qualities,  with  refpecl:  to 
Colour,  Smell,  Ccnfiftence,  &ct  which  before  devi- 
ated, are  now  reftored  to  their  natural  and  healthy 
Appearance.  Crude  Matter  is  a  created  Entity, 
equally  obedient  to  the  Laws  of  Nature  with  any 
other  Entity,  or  even  as  a  Fruit  or  Apple  tending 
to  Maturity. 

§.  928.  This  State  of  the  Difeafe  (§.  927.) 
and  its  Matter  (§.926.)  is  known,  i.  From 
$he  Ceffation  or  Diminution  of  the  Difeafe, 
and  its  gradual  Declenfion,  the  vital  Powers 
in  the  mean  time  remaining  firm  1  or  growing 
ftronger  j  2.  from  a  Removal  or  Decreafe  of 
the  Symptoms,  accompanied  with  a  natural 
Strength  in  the  vital  Organs;  3.  from  a  per- 
fect Reftitution  of  the  feveral  Fun&ions  to 
their  natural  State  and  Order $  4.  from  the  Sfc 
militude z  of  the  circulating  fecretory  and  ex^ 
cretory  Humours  and  Excrements,  sgreeable 
in  all  Refpe&s  with  thofe  which  we  obferve  irj 
a  natural  and  healthy  State. 

1  For  otherwife  the  lefTening  of  the  Difeafe  may 
proceed  from  the  nearer  Approach  of  Death  •,  but 
when  the  vital  Powers  increafe  when  the  Difeafe 
itfelf  lefTens,  there  is  always  a  juft  Foundation  to 
hope. 

2  As  for  an  Example,  in  an  Opthalmia  or  In- 
flammation of  the  Tunica  adnata,  there  is  the 
Crudity  obferved  by  Hippocrates  ^  from  whence  an 
acrimonious  Water  flows  out  of  the  Eye,  excori- 
ating 


§.  9 2 g.  0/* Difeafes.  tj$ 


ating  the  adjacent  Parts.  But  the  Concoction  is  faid 
to  take  place,  when  the  Eye-lids  appear  befet  with 
foft,  glutinous,  or  gummy  Scales,  which  is  a  Sign 
of  the  Concoction  or  approaching  of  the  Difeafe 
towards  Health.  In  a  Coryza  or  Running  at  the 
Nofe  from  a  Cold,  the  Diiorder  is  faid  to  be  in  a 
State  of  Crudity,  as  long  as  the  Humour  diftils 
like  a  fait  Water  from  the  Noftrils  ;  but  the  Con- 
coction is  faid  to  begin,  when  after  this  Water 
there  is  difcharged  a  large  Quantity  of  white  or 
yellowifh  and  tough  Mucus,  not  eafily  blown  out 
of  the  Nofe. 

§.  929.  The  Caufe  changing  the  crude 
(§.  922.)  into  concoded  Humours  (§.  926.) 
is  the  Adion  of  the  remaining  Life  or  Circu- 
lation, a  fpontaneous  Change  of  the  morbific 
Matter,  with  the  affifting  Virtue  of  Medi- 
cines \ 

1  The  Phyfician  ought  never  to  intrude  his  Af- 
fiftance  upon  Nature,  but  when  me  calls  fork.  Thus 
Sydenham  gives  us  an  Example  of  the  Humours 
arriving  fpontaneoufly  to  a  Concoclion  or  Refo- 
lution,  in  Cafes  where  the  Diforder  lying  in  the 
Head,  the  Patients  have  been  kept  in  fufpence  as 
it  were  betwixt  Life  and  Death  for  fourteen  Days 
iuccefiively  and  were  certain  to  be  precipitated 
into  the  latter,  if  the  Phyfician  attempted  to  do 
any  thing  extraordinary  for  their  Afllftance  :  buc 
if  they  were  left  to  themfelves,  and  only  kept  mo- 
derately warm,  and  fupplied  with  a  thin  Diet,  they 
always  recover'd  without  Phyfic;  whence  it  fol- 
lows, that  the  Phyfician  ought  only  to  moderate 
or  govern  the  Difeafe,  that  the  Circulation  may  be 
neither  too  violent,  nor  too  much  deprefled. 

,    §•  930- 


*74 


Signs  of  Difeafes.     §.  931* 


§.  930.  The  matter  of  the  Difeafe  being  fo 
farconcodted  or  digcfted  bytheCaufes  (§.929.) 
as  to  become  like  unto  the  healthy  Humours, 
the  Difeafe  is  then  faid  to  be.  refolved ;  and 
the  Adion  itfelf  is  termed  Refolution,  which 
is  always  the  moft  perfecl:  Way  of  curing  1  the 
Difeafe,  without  any  contingent  Evacuation, 
fuppofing  the  Matter  to  be  of  a  mild  Nature, 
the  Patient  of  a  good  Habit,  and  the  Medi- 
cines good  or  perfecl. 

*  This  Way  only  of  terminating  the  Difeafe  de- 
ferves  the  Name  of  a  Cure  ;  and  this  many  of  you 
have  experienced,  when  being  feized  with  a  kind 
of  Torpor,  Languor,  and  Anxiety  extended 
throughout  all  the  Functions ;  and  afterwards  by 
Abftinence,  Reft,  the  drinking  of  Tea,  &c.  the 
Diforder  has  gone  off  fpontaneoufiy.  In  this  Cafe 
the  morbific  Matter  is  fo  concocted  and  changed, 
that  it  differs  nothing  from  the  State  of  the  healthy 
"Humours  ;  but  this  requires  a  happy  Conftitution 
only,  without  any  Evacuation. 

§.  931.  In  acute  Difeafes  confuting  in  the 
Humours,  the  morbific  Matter  is  generally 
difpofed  to  receive  fuch  a  Change  within  a 
certain  time,  as  will  make  a  fudden  Altera- 
tion in  the  Difeafe  either  for  Health  or  Death  > 
which  Alteration  is  termed  a  Crifls,  and  the 
Matter  1  thus  difpofed  is  faid  to  be  critical. 

1  The  Matter  of  the  Difeafe,  which  is  foreign 
from  that  of  the  healthy  Humours,  does  in  time- 
begin  to  be  changed  either  to  a  better  or  worfe 

Condi-- 


§•933-     Signs  °f  Difeafes.        1 7 $ 

Condition  ;  from  whence  new  Symptoms  arife, 
and  appear  at  a  certain  time  in  each  particular  Dif- 
eafe.  This  we  call  a  Crifis,  or  that  State  of  the 
Dileafe  in  which  a  great  Change  happens,  in  or- 
der to  terminate  it  in  Health  or  Death,  or  in  fome 
•  other  Dileafe  different  from  the  firft  ;  and  this 
Crifis  is  generally  confounded,  for  want  of  Skill, 
together  with  the  critical  Evacuation.  Hippocrates 
confiders  Nature  and  the  Difeafe  as  two  Enemies, 
betwixt  whom  the  Rencounter  being  fevere,  can- 
not long  remain  undecided,  but  one  muft  over- 
power the  other and  this  State  of  the  Combat  he 
has  termed  a  Crifis  ;  from  whence  it  mud  be  evi- 
dent in  a  little  time  to  which  Side  the  Victory  wiil 
turn  ;  and  in  this  State  he  faw  that  it  was  eafy  tfcr 
attribute  the  Victory  either  to  one  or  the  other,  the 
Caufe  remaining  as  yet  doubtful. 

§.  932.  ThedCaufe  of  this  Change  in  the 
morbific  Matter  is  the  remaining  Vis  Vitce  ir- 
ritated by  the  faid  Matter  varioufly  condition^, 
fo  as  to  caufe  either  a  Tranflation  or  a  Dis- 
charge of  the  Matter,  or  kill  the  Patient. 

§.  933.  If  the  morbific  Matter  is  difpofed 
to  change  its  place,  or  to  be  evacuated  before 
it  has  acquir'd  a  healthy  Nature,  there  follows 
from  it  a  Change  in  the  Motion  of  the  Hu- 
mours, deviating  from  that  which  is  ufual  in 
healthy  Bodies ;  and  this  is  called  a  critical 
Dijlurbance  1  or  Perturbation. 

1  When  the  morbific  Matter  being  in  fome 
meafure  concocted,  but  not  yet  healthy,  has  lain 
Hill  for  a  time,  but  is  now  fuddenly  moved,  this 
is  termed,  Perturbatio  critica    and  though  Health 
2  does 


does  not  follow  from  this,  yet  the  Difeafe  is 
change  i  for  the  better  :  as  for  Example,  when  the 
Atrabilis  is  moved  in  a  Fever,  all  the  Symptoms 
become  irregular,  and  a  great  Difturbance  follows* 
changing  every  thing  for  the  worfe,  unlefs  the 
Symptoms  are  carefully  reduced  to  their  proper 
Order  by  the  prudent  Phyfician. 

§.  934.  But  thefe  Changes  arifing  from  the 
Vis  Vitce  beginning  to  move,  circulate,  mix 
or  feparate  the  critical  Matter,  if  they  are  fen- 
fible,  are  termed  critical  Symptoms,  and  are 
the  demonftrative  Signs 1  that  a  Criiis  is  pre- 
fent,  or  near  at  hand.  The  diftinguifhing  of 
thefe  Signs  is  difficult7' %  but  to  be  ignorant  of 
them  muft  be  attended  with  great  Danger  \ 
and  mifchievous  Events. 

• 

1  Critical  Symptoms  or  Signs  are  the  fenfible 
Changes  arifing  from  the  Vis  Vita,  When  the 
phlogiftic  Matter  in  the  Blood  is  fo  changed,  that 
it  no  longer  caufes  an  Inflammation,  but  being  half 
difTolved  is  carried  forward  into  the  Veins,  there 
then  follows  a  Coldnefs  and  Rigor,  or  Shivering* 
throughout  the  whole  Body  ;  whence  the  Unfkilfui 
are  afraid  that  Death  is  at  hand.  But  this  is  £ 
great  Error,  fince  the  Difturbance  arifes  from  the 
Vis  Vitte,  and  will  be  fo  much  the  more  falutary, 
as  the  Patient  feems  to  be  worfe.  For  this  Rigor 
happens  when  the  Blood,  which  ftagnated  at  the 
Ends  of  the  Arteries,  finds  a  PafFage  into  the  Ends 
of  the  Veins  ;  whence  the  former  are  depleted  or 
unloaded,  the  obftruclion  of  the  arterial  Syftem 
removed,  and  the  Attrition,  Heat,  and  other 
Symptoms  proportionably  diminimed.  If  now 
you  was  to  oppofe  this  Chiilinefs,  by  treating  it 

with 


§•  935-       Signs  °f  Difeafes.  177 

with  Medicines  as  a  Fever,  it  would  be  a  moft 
egregious  Error. 

*  This  Difficulty  will  be  rhet  with  chiefly  by 
thofe,  who  are  not  acquainted  with  the  Functions 
and  Mechanifrn  of  the  human  Body,  and  who  have 
not  learned  to  judge  by  the  Signs  of  Sicknefs  and 
Health  ;  but  to  one  fkilful  in  thefe  refpedts,  the 
Diftindtion  of  the  critical  Symptoms  or  Appear- 
ances will  be  eafy  and  manifeft  enough. 

3  He  that  difturbs  the  Symptoms  of  a  Diforder 
without  knowing  what  is  performed  within  the 
Body,  has  only  a  Chance  either  to  cure  or  to  kill, 
fince  he  proceeds  upon  no  fure  Footing.  When 
the  Lips  tremble  in  the  Increafe  of  an  acute  Fever, 
it  is  almoft  conftantly  a  Prefage  that  dreadful  Con- 
vulfions  are  at  hand  ;  but  when  they  tremble  on 
the  third  Day  of  an  ardent  Fever  after  the  Signs  of 
Concoction,  a  falutary  Vomking  will  enfue  in  a- 
bout  half  an  Hour  after.  But  this  Difference  of 
the  Prefage  depends  on  the  time  of  the  Difeafe, 
and  the  paft  Signs,  &c.  A  Spanijh  Phyfician  has 
wrote  an  elegant  Treatife,  entitled,  Confultatio  me- 
dica>  in  which  he  calls  in  the  various  Sedts  of  Phy- 
ficians,  who  ftudy  hard  to  relieve  the  Patient,  buc 
difagree  in  their  Opinions,  fome  recommending 
one  thing,  and  fome  another ;  but  at  length  Hip- 
pocrates comes  in,  and  with  one  Word  filences  all 
their  Contentions:  Let  the  Patient  lie  ftill,  fays 
he,  to-morrow  he  will  have  a  Sweat,  or  a  Bleed'-' 
ing  at  the  Nofe,  and  be  cured. 

§.935.  For  too  frequently  thefe  critical 
Signs  are  confounded 1  with  the  Symptoms  ari- 
fing  from  the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe,  from  the 
Difeafe  itfelf,  or  from  the  crude,  morbific 
N  Matter  j 


1 7  8       Signs  of  Difeafes.       §.  936. 

Matter  ;  from  which  Confufion  a  moft  un- 
happy Method  of  Cure  is  often  deduced. 

*  Suppofe  a  Patient  affli&ed  with  a  Pleurify,  in 
which  the  crude  Matter  cauies  Anxieties,  Pains, 
fs?r.  but  this  Matter  being  concocted  by  Nature 
and  proper  Medicines,  at  length  there  follows  a 
Difcharge  of  bilious  Blood,  which  one  ignorant  of 
the  true  Art  of  healing,  may  miftake  for  an  Hae- 
moptoe,  and  by  opening  a  Vein  may  kill  the  Pa- 
tient when  one  more  fkilful  and  experienced 
would  be  rather  pleafed  than  terrified  at  the  Ap- 
proach of  this  falutary  Affiftance  of  Nature.  Thofe 
Appearances  therefore  which  arife  from  the  Dif- 
eafe,  ought  to  be  well  diftinguifhed  from  thofe 
which  are  the  Effects  of  the  remaining  vital 
Powers- 

§.  936.  But  the  Signs  by  which  we  diftin- 
guifh  the  critical  Symptoms 1  from  thofe  of  the 
Difeafe,  are  chiefly  the  following  :  (  j. )  The 
former  arife  from  the  Vis  Vitce  overpowering 
the  Vis  Morbi>  and  the  latter  arife  from  the 
Vis  Morbi  prevailing  over  the  vital  Powers. 
(2.)  The  former  again  follow  after  a  Concofti- 
011  has  manifefted  itfelf  by  its  proper  Signs  and 
falutary  Effects ;  whereas  the  latter  are  obfer- 
ved  in  a  State  of  Crudity.  (3.)  The  former 
happen  about  the  time  proper  for  a  Crifis,  but 
the  latter  appear  at  any  time  of  the  Difeafe, 
but  more  especially  in  its  Increafe.  (4.)  The 
former  alleviate  the  Difeafe  in  a  little  time, 
but  the  latter  foon  change  every  thing  for  the 
worfe. 

Violent 


§.  93 8.      Signs  of  Difeafes.  *jg 

■  Violent  Symptoms  appearing  before  any  Con- 
coction, threaten  every  thing  that  is  ill ;  but  they 
afford  one  of  the  beft  Signs  when  they  follow  after 
Concoction,  or  even  if  they  afflict  the  Patient  in 
the  very  time  of  the  Concoction  itfelf. 

§.937.  The  principal  or  primary  of  thefe 
critical  Symptoms 1  and  Signs,  which  precede 
a  critical  Evacuation,  are  the  following  : 
When  after  Concoction  about  the  time  of  a 
Crifis,  there  arifes  fuddenly,  without  any  new  * 
or  manifeft  Caufe  of  Difeafe,  a  Stupor  or 
Drowfinefs,  P<openfity  to  Sleep,  Watchings, 
Delirium,  Anxieties,  Dyfpnaea,  a  reftlefs  or 
troublefome  Night  -y  a  Shivering,  Pain,  Red- 
nefs,  Titillation,  or  Itching;  a  Pricking,  Hea- 
vinefs  and  Dulnefs  in  the  Parts ;  Darknefs, 
(hining  Light,  and  a  lpontaneous  Difcharge  of 
the  Tears  in  the  Eyes ;  a  Loathing  or  Sicknefs 
at  Stomach,  with  burning  Heat 3  and  Thirft ; 
l  drawing  up  of  the  Hypochondria,  with  a 
tremulous  Motion  of  the  lower  Lip. 

1  The  different  Nature  of  thefe  Symptoms  at 
different  times  of  the  Difeafebeing  well  underftood, 
nake  a  great  Part  of  the  Hippocratic  Knowledge, 
b  abfolutely  necefTary  towards  prefaging  Events, 
ind  accomplishing  the  Cure  of  Difeafes. 

1  For  the  Accefiion  of  a  new  Difeafe  will  make 
:very  thing  doubtful. 

\  1  This  Heat  being  chiefly  about  the  Pra> 
'ordia. 

§.  938.  The  Signs  of  a  prefent  critical  Dif- 
harge  1  are,  when  after  the  Appearance  of 
N  2    •  the 


1 8 ^      Signs  of  Difeafes.      §•  939* 

the  former  (§.  936,  937),  we  obferve  a  Vo- 
miting, Spitting,  frequent  blowing  of  the 
Nofe,  Expectoration  of  Phlegm,  a  Loofenefs 
of  the  Bowels,  much  turbid  Urine,  a  bleeding 
at  the  Nofe,  or  by  the  menftrual  ar  hemor- 
rhoidal Flux,  a  Sweat,  Abfcefsii  Puftules, 
Tumors,  Bubo,  Parotis,  Aphthae,  or  a  Tran- 
flation  of  the  Humours  from  one  Part  to  an- 
other. 

1  Thefe  critical  Evacuations  derive  the  peccant 
Humour  from  one  place  to  another,  and  either 
diicharge  it  out  of  the  Body,  or  eife  depofit  it  in 
fome  other  Part  ;  which  laft  is  termed  a  Metafta- 
fisof  the  morbific  Matter  ;  which  will  have  a  good 
Effecl:,  when  the  Matter  is  depofited  from  a  more 
into  a  lefs  noble  Part,  and  the  reverfe.  And  tho' 
in  this  Cafe  the  Diforder  is  fo  reduced  by  Concoc- 
tion and  Crifis,  as  to  be  lefs  hurtful  \  yet  it  is  not 
entirely  removed  without  leaving  any  ill  Effects,  as 
fomet  mes  happens  by  a  Refoluiion. 

z  By  an  Abfcefs  we  here  underftand  not  that 
which  produces  an  Ulcer,  but  a  Recefiion  of  the 
morbific  Matter  from  the  Blood. 

§.939.  Thefe  critical  and  falutary  Evacua- 
tions (§.938.)  which  ought  not  to  be  difturb- 
ed  by  any  Affiftance  from  Art,  are  known  to 
be  fuch  when  they  follow  after  the  Signs  be- 
fore-mentioned (§.936,937.):  After  a  pre- 
ceding ConcoBion  \  the  Difeafe  being  at  its 
Height  %  the  Vis  vit<z  of  a  due  Strength,  the 
Excrements  1  of  a  healthy  or  natural  Appear- 
ance j  the  Congruity  of  the  Difeafe  with  the 
Part 4  affe<3ed,  Way  of  living,  Diet  \  Age, 


§,  939*  Signs  of  Difeafes.  j  8 r 
Sex,  and  Habit  of  the  Patient,  with  the  Time 
or  Stage,  and  Part  or  EmunStory  6,  &c.  thefe 
being  alfo  follow'd  with  an  Alleviation  of  the 
Difeafe  and  its  Symptoms,  accompany'd  with 
an  incipient  or  perfect  Reftitution  of  the  heal- 
thy Colour,  Heat,  Strength,  Pulfe,  Refpira- 
tion,  and  other  Actions  in  the  Patient  •  to 
which  add  a  Continuance  7  of  the  critical  Eva- 
cuation until  the  End  of  the  Difeafe  :  for  if  all 
or  mofl  of  thefe  Signs  are  prefent,  there  will 
be  a  perfect  Separation  of  the  morbid  from  the 
found  Humours,  and  the  Crifis  may  be  faid 
to  be  perfect,  evacuating,  or  feparatory. 

1  If  the  Patient  vomits,  and  it  is  afked  whether 
this  vomiting  be  critical  or  fymptomatic,  Attend- 
ance muft  be  given  to  the  time  of  the  Difeafe  in 
which  this  happens ;  if  it  is  found  to  be  in  the 
Decline  of  the  Difeafe,  after  the  preceding  Signs 
of  Concoction,  it  is  a  good  critical  Evacuation  ; 
but  if  the  Diforder  be  in  its  Increafe,  every  Eva- 
cuation is  bad. 

a  In  acute  Difeafes  the  Progrefs  is  generally  thus ; 
the  Diforder  increafes  for  four  Days,  which  make 
the  Stage  of  Crudity  •,  but  the  Ackme  or  Height 
is  limited  to  the  5th  or  bth  and  the  following  Days 
'till  the  9th,  when  the  Diforder  begins  to  decreafe  ; 
and  this  is  the  Stage  of  Concoction  or  Crifis.  The 
ninth  Day  is  as  different  from  the  Height  of  the 
Difeafe  as  the  firft  Day,  and  this  is  the  Stage  where- 
in any  critical  Evacuation  happening  is  falutary. 

3  When  the  Difeafe  is  in  the  pituitary  Mem- 
brane, the  difcharged  Mucvs  ought  to  be  thick 
and  white ;  when  the  Diforder  is  lodged  in  the 
Blood,  the  Urine  ought  to  be  thick  or  turbid,  and 
fcalding. 

N  3  When 


1 82      Signs  of  Difeafes*  §.940. 

*  When  the  Difeafe  is  in  the  Lungs,  there  ought 
to  be  an  Expectoration  upward  from  the  Mouth, 
or  elfe  there  muft  of  necefTity  follow  a  Tranflation. 

5  If  a  Patient  in  an  ardent  or  inflammatory  Fe- 
ver mould  have  fed  upon  Butter,  and  after  fome 
Hours  he  difcharges  a  bitter,  rancid,  and  inflam- 
matory Matter  by  vomit,  this  Difcharge  would  be 
neither  critical  nor  fymptomatic,  but  the  Confe- 
quence  only  of  a  wrong  Diet. 

6  When  the  Diforder  lies  in  the  prima  a 
vomiting  will  be  critical  and  falutary  ;  but  if  the 
Malady  lies  in  the  Blood,  vomiting  is  neither  cri- 
tical nor  good,  becaufe  it  does  not  evacuate  by  the 
convenient  Emunctory  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  a 
bleeding  at  the  Nofe  in  an  ardent  Fever,  is  one  of 
the  beft  Evacuations,  but  a  fpitting  of  Blood  from 
the  Nature  of  the  Pans,  muft  be  of  bad  Prefage. 

7  When  the  Patient  has  continually  a  bloody 
fpitting  on  the  fecond  Day,  which  after  a  few 
Hours  turns  white,  it  is  a  bad  Sign,  denoting  that 
the  Concoction  is  too  early,  and  that  the  crude 
Matter  is  but  imperfectly  digefted.  This  whole 
Bufinefs  of  Concoction  and  Crifis  is  performed  al- 
mofl  entirely  by  the  Induftry  of  Nature,  by  the 
Action  of  the  vital  Powers,  and  by  a  fpontaneous 
Change  in  the  morbific  Matter  \  infomuch,  that 
the  Phyfician  can  hardly  claim  a  third  Part  in  the 
Recovery  of  the  Patient. 

§.  940.  But  if  thofe  Signs  (§.  939.)  are  ab- 
fent,  or  their  Contraries  appear,  then  it  is  evi- 
dent that  thefe  are  the  Symptoms  of  the  Dif- 
eafe \  and  not  of  a  Crifis  or  the  Conqueft  of 
Nature  5  and  that  therefore  being  ill  Symptoms 
they  are  to  be  remedied  as  well  as  the  Diftem- 
per  itfelf :  but  if  all  thefe  are  not  prefeat,  on- 


§.941.      Signs  of  Difeafes.  183 

ly  fome  of  them,  and  thofe  not  perfed:,  we 
then  know  that  the  critical  Matter  is  as  yet 
wandering  or  ill-conditioned,  and  that  it  may 
produce  various  Symptoms  in  this  or  that  Part 
upon  which  it  happens  to  fettle ;  and  this  is 
termed  a  critical  Metaftafis  or  Tranflation  of 
the  morbific  Matter. 

1  Thefe  Symptoms  of  the  Difeafe  are  not  to  be 
left  to  themfelves,  but  to  be  treated  with  proper 
Remedies  like  the  Difeafe  itfelf. 

§.941.  From  what  has  been  faid,  the  fol- 
lowing and  the  like  Axioms  or  Rules  are  de- 
duced and  received  into  the  Diagnoftics  and 
Prognoftics  of  Difeafes. — A  critical  Evacuation 
after  a  Coricoftion  is  always  good. — The  fame 
Evacuation  is  good  when  it  happens  on  a  cri- 
tical Day.— But  this  Evacuation  differs  accord- 
ing to  the  'Time  1  and  Matter  of  the  Difeafe, 
the  Age  %  Habit,  and  Sex  of  the  Patient,  and 
alfo  the  Country  or  Climate* >  Seafon  of  the 
Year,  and  epidemical  Conftitution  of  the  Dif- 
eafe.— That  this  Evacuation  before  a  Concoc- 
tion is  bad. — But  that  Codtion  itfelf  is  always 
good. — That  the  fooner  the  Concodtion  is 
made,  the  better  3  but  not  fo  of  the  critical 
Evacuation  4. 

1  In  the  Plague  aCrifis  happens  before  the  third 
Day  ;  and  in  the  worft  Fevers  it  often  falls  out 
upon  the  third  Day. 

1  In  old  People  critical  Evacuations  continue 
almoft  throughout  the  remaining  Part  of  Life  ; 
but  in  young  People  they  terminate  in  a  few  Days. 

N  4  The 


184       Signs  of  Difeafes.      §.  94 1. 

3  The  Crifes  of  Difeafes  which  happen  in  Nor-* 
way  will  be  different  from  thofe  which  happen  in 
Greece    thofe  in  a  Woman  different  from  thofe  in 
a  Man  :   they  will  alfo  differ  in  the  Child  and  in 
the  Adult,  and  as  various  will  be  the  Crifis  in  an 
ardent  and  intermitting  Fever.  Even  in  the  Plague 
itfelf  there  are  four  kinds  of  critical  Evacuations, 
namely,  none  at  all  in  the  word  Species  of  the 
Plague,  which  fuddenly  kills  ihe  Patient  without 
a  Crifis.    2.  That  which  is  fatal  and  accompanied 
with  Spots.    3.  That  which  is  fatal  with  Carbun- 
cles.  And,  4.  That  which  is  of  a  good  Kind,  and 
curable  by  critical  Buboes.   All  thefe  ought  to  be 
accurately  knawn,  becaufe  the  Phyfician  muft  ne- 
ver purge  but  when  the  morbific  Matter  abounds, 
nor  evacuate  but  when  the  morbific  Matter  rages  5 
or  when  the  Blood  moves  fo  violently  by  the  Vis 
Vit<e^  that  Nature  cannot  conquer  the  Difeafe  that 
way  but  will  deftroy  Life  itfelf ;  and  in  that  Cafe  he 
is  boldly  to  invert  or  alter  the  Attempts  of  Nature. 
InaPleurify  the  inflammatory  Matter  and  Stricture 
upon  the  intercoftal  VefTels,  make  theproeguminal 
or  pre-difpofmg  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe  \  but  the  pro- 
catartic  or  immediate  Caufe  is  the  Fever  which 
coagulates  and  compacts  together  the  philogiftic 
Matter.    From  thefe  Caufes  conjunctly  follow  fe- 
vera!  Changes  in  the  Functions  or  Actions  of  the 
Parts.  Now  in  this  Cafe  the  Phyfician  who  knows 
that  the  Diforder  being  left  to  Nature  will  degene- 
rate into  a  Gangrene  or  Suppuration,  either  of 
which  may  be  fatal  in  their  Events ;  fuch  a  one 
will  neither  urge  Nature,  nor  wait  for  a  Crifis, 
which  may  be  of  fatal  Confequence  5  but  he  will 
diminifh  the  vital  Powers,  that  they  may  be  no 
longer  able  to  maintain  the  Fever,  and  then  he 
will  endeavour  to  refolve  the  Matter. 


Namely, 


§,  942-       Signs  of  Difeafes.       1 8 

4  Namely,  a  critical  Evacuation  ;  for  that  th 
might  be  ferviceable,  it  ought  to  follow  Conco< 
tion. 

§.942.  The  Foreknowledge  of  the  Event 
of  a  Difeafe  is  principally  founded  upon 
ving  flrft  underftood  and  compared  togetru 
the  Caufes ;  upon  which  the  prefent  and  fi 
ture  Life  of  the  Patient  depend,  and  of  tb 
Caufes  from  whence  the  prefent  Difeafe  arife; 
for  from  thefe  rightly  difcover'd  and  examin', 
arifes  a  Pro^noftication  or  Prefage  concemig 
the  Event  of  the  Difeafe,  whether  it  will  te- 
minate  in  Life,  Health,  fome  ether  Difordr, 
or  in  Death  5  moreover,  from  the  fame  Co- 
liderations  we  may  underftand  the  Times  sid 
Changes  which  happen  in  Crifes. 

1  Nothing  is  more  necefTary  to  the  practical  Piy- 
ficians  than  to  know  how  to  predict  the  Event:  of 
Pileafes,  fince  there  are  perpetual  Enquiries  mide 
on  that  head.    This  Doctrine  has  been  delive*ed 
to  us  in  a  compleat  manner  by  Pro/per  dlpinusm 
his  Book  De  pr^fagienda  vita  £s?  morte  ;  and  it 
were  to  be  wifhed  we  had  that  Author's  Treatife 
De  variis  permutationibus  morborum  in  our  Pofifef- 
fion  ;  the  Knowledge  of  which  we  are  in  the  mean 
time  to  derive  from  Hippocrates  and  practical  Ana- 
tomy. .  Life  is  a  certain  Condition  of  the  human 
Body,  whofe  oppofite  is  Difeafe  and  Death,  which 
terminates  both.  But  the  Condition  of  the  Difeafe 
changes  the  Body  from  what  is  requir'd  in  it  to 
produce  tjealth.  But  the  practical  Phyfician  com- 
pares the  vital  Powers  with  thofe  of  the  Difeafe, 
and  from  that  Comparifon  judges  whether  Death 
pr  Recovery  will  be  the  Event. 

§■  943? 


86      Signs  of  Difeafes.       §,  943. 

§.943.  The  Efficacy  of  the  Caufe  from 
/hence  Life  is  as  yet  continued,   may  be 
nown  from  each  of  the  remaining  Functions, 
lore  efpecially  the  vital,  then  the  animal,  and 
iftly,  the  natural.    All  which  are  ufually  re- 
uced  to  the  two  following  Axioms  :  In  pro- 
ortion  as  a  greater  Number  of  the  Functions 
;e  more  like  to  the  fame  Fundtions  which 
fually  are  exercifed  in  Health,  fo  much  the 
jeater  and  better  is  the  Power  of  Life,  and 
i  much  greater  are  the  Hopes  of  the  Patient's 
rcovering  perfect  Health  1 :  alfo  the  more 
halthy  that  Function  is  in  the  Patient,  upon 
wiich  depend  the  greateft  Number  of  the 
oter  FunBions'1'  as  their  Caufe,  fo  much  the 
m»re  likely  is  the  Patient  to  recover  and  efcape 
hi:  Malady  ;   and  on  the  reverfe,  oppofite 
Ccnclufions  are  to  be  drawn  from  contrary 
Prnciples. 

1  Health  is  the  Prefence  of  all  the  Fundtions 
both  vital,  animal,  and  natural.  Suppofe  there 
are  100  of  them,  and  but  one  only  of  them  is  de- 
ficient, this  muft  produce  a  Diieafe  but  as  there 
are  99  of  the  Functions  remaining  entire,  there  is 
juft  reafon  to  expect  that  Health  will  fcon  be  re- 
cover'd  :  but  if  09  of  the  Functions  are  deftroy- 
ed,  and  one  only  remains,  it  is  plain  that  Death 
ought  to  be  prefaged. 

2  So  long  as  the  Pulfe  remains  ftrong  and  equal, 
the  Patient  is  not  near  Death,  unlefs  fome  power- 
ful Caufe  mould  fuddenly  intervene.  For  fuch  a 
Pulfe  denotes  the  Heart  to  be  ftrong,  the  Lungs 
pervious,  and  the  Cerebellum  employed  in  its  vi- 


§•945*       Signs  of  Difeafes.  187 

tal  Action  ;  but  upon  thefe  Vifcera  depend  the 
Actions  of  all  the  reft,  and  therefore  fo  long  as 
thefe  Springs  or  principal  Functions  are  ftrong> 
there  is  reafon  to  hope  for  the  beft,  and  the  more 
in  proportion  as  thofe  primary  Functions  are 
more  entire. 

§.  944.  But  a  Function  is  known  to  be  like 
that  in  Health,  if  the  evident  Effects  infepa- 
rable  from  that  healthy  Function,  (which  we 
have  before  defcribed  in  the  phyfiological  Part 
of  thefe  Inftitutes)  are  found  to  be  fuch  as  we 
have  there  explained  :  but  more  efpecially  we 
are  allured  of  the  good  Difpofition  of  any 
Function,  if  the  Caufe,  Matter  and  Effects  of 
the  Difeafe  are  changed  to  Health  by  the 
Power  of  the  remaining  Fun&ions 1 5  and  there- 
fore we  are  principally  to  judge  of  the  Patient's 
being  in  a  fair  way  to  recover,  from  the  due 
Concoction  of  the  morbific  Matter,  and  from 
a  good  critical  Evacuation. 

1  The  Phyfician  who  is  called  to  a  Patient  in 
the  Fit  of  a  tertian  Ague  or  intermitting  Fever, 
rinds  his  Pulfe  difturbed,  with  the  Urine  and  Re- 
fpiration  much  diforder'd,  fro^i  whence  he  might 
infer  much  Danger  at  hand  :  but  if  he  returns  a 
few  Hours  after,  he  will  find  all  thofe  Symptoms 
and  Difturbances  quiet ;  and  if  he  vifits  again  the 
next  Day,  he  finds  every  thing  frill  more  fedate 
and  regular,  and  from  thence  readily  concludes 
that  the  Cafe  is  not  dangerous. 

§.  945.  The  belt  Concoction  is  judged  to 
be  that  which  fooneft,   and  moft  perfectly 

turns 


1 88       Signs  ofDifeafes.        §.  947. 

turns  the  crude  Matter  of  the  Difeafe,  fo  as  to 
referable  the  natural  healthy  Humours ;  whence 
follows  this  Axiom,  The  better  the  Concoc- 
tion \  the  greater  Hopes  are  there  of  the  Pa- 
tient's Life  and  Recovery. 

1  Any  Matter  or  Humour  is  faid  to  be  crude, 
when  it  deviates  from  Health  ;  but  Conco&ion  is 
the  reducing  fuch  Crudities  towards  a  healthy 
State ;  and  therefore  the  bed  Coction  is,  when  a 
crude  Humour  is  perfectly  changed  to  the  Nature 
of  the  healthy  Humours. 

§.  946.  We  alfo  know  that  the  Humours 
return  to  their  healthy  Difpofition,  and  that 
the  folid  Parts  are  reftored  to  their  due  State, 
when  the  injured  A&ions  of  any  kind  are  en- 
tirely reftored  and  if  at  the  fame  time  all  the 
Excretions  put  on  their  ufual  healthy  Appear- 
ance. From  hence  we  deduce  the  following 
Axioms :  The  more  the  Adtions  are  changed 
to  a  nearer  refemblance  of  Health,  the  better 
is  the  Concoction  ;  and  again,  the  more  near- 
ly all  the  Excrements  approach  to  their  natu- 
ral State,  the  more  perfedt  the  Concoftion, 
and  the  reverfe. 

§.  947.  Finally,  the  Strength  1  of  the  vital 
Powers  is  known  from  the  Age,  Sex,  Habit, 
Courfe  of  Life,  Nation  and  Family  a  of  the 
Patient. 

1  The  vital  Powers  are  but  weak  in  old  People, 
and  in  general  weaker  in  Women  than  in  Men. 

In 


§.  949*       Signs  ofDifeafes.  189 

a  In  fome  certain  Families  particular  Difeafes 
are  fatal,  which  other  People  eafily  get  over. 

§.  948.  From  all  thefe  Particulars  (§.  942  to 
948.)  the  Phylician  determines  the  vital 
Strength  1  in  the  Patient,  with  the  Strength  of 
its  Caufes. 

1  This  Knowledge  of  the  vital  Strength  fupplies 
the  chief  Prognofis,  and  is  taken  from  the  remain- 
ing Signs  of  Health  in  the  Patient ;  if  thofe  which 
remain,  and  thofe  which  are  loft  are  equal,  the 
Cafe  is  doubtful  ;  but  if  the  Number  of  healthy 
Signs  remaining  be  moreorlefs  than  thofe  abfent, 
there  will  be  Hopes  or  Danger  in  proportion  of 
the  Patient's  Recovery.  But  here  the  Phyfician 
ought  to  be  extremely  cautious  not  to  defame  him- 
felf  by  judging  a  dangerous  Difeafe  to  be  flight, 
nor  to  imitate  the  Quack  or  Mountebank  in  giving 
out  that  flight  Diforders  are  dangerous,  as  Cdfus, 
has  formerly  obferved  to  us. 

§.  949.  But  the  Strength  and  Magnitude  of 
the  Caufe  producing  the  Difeafe  is  known, 

1.  From  being  acquainted  with  the  Magni- 
tude, Malignity  1  or  Obftinacy  of  the  Caufe. 

2.  From  the  known  Nature  of  the  Difeafe 
itfelf,  and  the  epidemical  Constitution  there- 
of. 3.  From  the  Number,  Magnitude,  and 
Violence  of  the  Symptoms*.  4.  From  the 
Crudity  of  the  morbific  Matter.  5.  From  the 
great  Alteration  3  made  in  the  fenfible  Quali- 
ties of  things  appearing  to  the  Organs  of  Senfe, 
as  the  Figure,  Bulk,  Colour  and  Confidence. 

6.  From 


igo       Signs  of  Difeafes.       §.  q$o. 

6.  From  the  Deviation  of  the  Excreta  4  from 
their  healthy  Conditions. 

1  Thus  the  Phyfician  muft  consequently  form  a 
bad  Judgment  concerning  the  Gout,  or  Venereal 
Difeafe  of  the  worft  kind. 

*  When  a  Difeafe  has  increafed  violently  for 
two  Days,  and  arrives  at  its  Height  on  the  third 
Day,  it  is  certain  that  Difeafe  will  foon  have  a 
Period  either  fatal  or  fortunate. 

3  When  a  Perfon  fuddenly  lofes  the  natural 
Colour,  Smell,  Tafte,  and  Forms  of  Objects,  it 
is  a  very  bad  Sign,  demonftrating  a  great  deal  of 
Weaknefs  in  the  Power  of  Nature. 

4  You  have  been  already  acquainted  from  Phy- 
fiology,  with  the  Difpofition  which  the  Saliva 
ought  to  pofTefs  in  the  Morning  failing  in  a  healthy 
Perfon  *,  namely,  to  be  mucous,  white,  pellucid, 
diflblvable  in  Water,  and  freeing  the  Lungs  by 
its  Excretion.  But  in  a  Peripneumony,  the  Spittle 
ought  to  be  yellow  with  Streaks  of  Blood  ;  and 
fuch  is  faid  to  be  concocted,  when  upon  the  Ap- 
pearance of  this  the  Symptoms  gradually  di- 
minifh. 

§.  950.  Thefe  Caufes  (§.  948,  949.)  being 
well  underftood  and  compared  together,  we 
may  predict  agreeable  to  the  following  Axi- 
oms ;  That  if  the  Caufes  of  Life  in  the  Pa- 
tient are  much  more  powerful  than  thofe  in 
the  Difeafe,  then  the  Patient  will  be  perfectly 
recovered  in  a  fhort  time. 

But  that  if  the  Caufes  of  Life  and  the  Dif- 
eafe are  of  equal  Efficacy,  that  then  the  Dif- 
temper  will  be  dangerous,  of  long  Continu- 
ance, or  terminating  in  fome  other  Difeafe. 

But 

6 


§.  95  2-       Signs  of  Difeafes.  19* 

But  if  the  Caufes  of  the  Difeafe  appear  more 
powerful  than  thofe  of  Life,  Death  muft  fol- 
low, either  throughout  the  whole,  or  in  the 
Part  affected. 

§.951.  The  Greatnefs  of  Danger  in  the 
Difeafe  is  eftimated  from  the  Excefs  of  the 
morbid  Caufe  over  that  of  Life. 

§.  952.  The  Continuance  of  the  Difeafe  h 
meafured  from  the  Slownefs  1  with  which 
it  advances  towards  its  Height ;  from  the 
Weaknefs  of  the  vital  Powers,  and  from 
the  Obftinacy  or  Tenacity  of  the  morbific 
Matter. 

1  Common  acute  Difeafes  terminate  within  14 
Days ;  they  increafe  for  feven  Days,  ftand  at  the 
Height  on  the  eighth  Day,  and  from  thence  de  • 
cline,  fo  as  to  leave  the  Patient  free  on  the  four- 
teenth :  but  if  now  the  Difeafe  advances  flowly  to 
its  Height,  you  may  be  always  certain  that  the 
Declenfion  and  Recovery  of  Health  will  be  flow  in 
the  fame  p.oportion,  as  the  Difeafe  advanced  id 
its  Height.  Thefe  Changes  ought  to  be  well  ob- 
ferved  by.  the  practical  Phyfician,  obferving  every 
two  or  three  Hours  whether  the  Difeafe  increafes, 
or  the  vital  Powers  diminim.  If  now  the  Difeafe 
from  the  firft  Day  appears  to  have  its  Symptoms 
increafing  every  Hour,  but  if  you  obferve  that  the 
next  Day  it  is  at  a  ftand,  it  is  certain  that  Difeafe 
will  foon  terminate.  If  the  Difeafe  was  two  Days 
increafing,  being  at  its  Height  on  the  third  Day, 
it  will  terminate  on  the  fixth.  This  is  the  Doctrine 
of  Hippocrates,  who  tells  us  that  the  firft  Day  of 
the  Difeafe  is  an  Index  to  the  third,  the  fourth  to 

the 


Ig2       Signs  of  Difeafes.       §.  954* 

the  feventh,  and  the  fifth  to  the  ninth.  Nor  will 
this  deceive  the  Phyfician,  provided  he  commits 
the  Diforder  to  Nature,  and  it  meets  with  no  Dif- 
turbance,  either  from  obtruding  his  unneceffary 
Affiftance,  or  from  fome  unforeseen  Accident. 

§.•953.  That  another  Difeafe  'will  follow 
from  the  firft,  may  be  known  from  the  Re- 
miffion  of  the  Foixe  of  the  Difeafe  and  its 
Symptoms,  without  a  Conco<Sion3  and  with- 
out a  juft  or  fufficient  critical  Evacuation,  and 
this  in  a  Diforder  attended  with  an  offending 
Matter. 

1  We  may  forefee  that  another  Difeafe  will  fol- 
low when  the  Violence  of  the  Diforder  and  its 
Symptoms  diminim  without  any  due  Concoction 
or  critical  Evacuation  of  the  morbific  Matter,  which 
always  caufes  a  Return  of  the  former,  or  fome  new 
Diftemper  after  an  imperfect  Crifis. 

§.  954.  But  this  fucceeding  Diforder  is  often 
worfe  1  and  more  obftinate  than  the  firft,  ac- 
cording to  the  Nature  of  the  Part  injured,  in 
which  the  new  Difeafe  takes  up  its  Seat,  or 
according  to  the  different  Change  made  in  the 
morbific  Matter,  even  by  time  or  ftanding 
only. 

1  The  Patient  frequently  wimes  to  be  freed  from 
his  Pain,  and  ufes  all  his  Efforts  for  that  End  j 
which  if  he  obtains,  it  is  often  either  at  the  Ex- 
pence  of  Life,  or  for  a  worfe  Difeafe.  Thus  if 
the  fliarp  Pain  in  a  Plearify  fuddenly  remits,  there 
follows  a  dangerous,  and  for  the  moft  part  a  fatal 

z  Empyema  -r 


§.  9 5  6-     Signs  of  Difeqfes.        19 3 

Empyema  :  for  the  Ulcer  is  not  in  the  Phyfician's 
Power  to  remove,  tho'  the  Inflammation  was. 

§.  955.  But  the  Part  where  the  indigefted 
morbific  Matter  will  refide  or  fettle  itfelf,  may 
be  known  from  an  Itching,  Titillation,  Red- 
nefs,  Pain,  Heat,  Tumor,  N  umbnefs,  Pulfation, 
and  a  perpetual  Unealinefs  and  Agitation  in 
fome  Part  of  the  Patient,  and  alfo  from  the 
Nature  and  EfTence  or  epidemical  Conftitution 
of  the  Difeafe. 

§.  956.  Moreover,  if  it  is  perceived  that 
Art 1  or  Accident  has  produced  the  foremen- 
tioned  Symptoms  (§.  955.)  in  fome  particular 
Part  of  the  Body,  then  alfo  we  may  forefee 
that  the  Matter  of  the  Difeafe  will  be  collected 
in  that  Part. 

1  When  there  is  a  wandering  morbific  Matter 
lodged  in  the  Blood  in  an  acute  Difeafe,  I  take 
care  to  keep  fome  Part  lax,  foft,  and  lefs  refitting, 
that  it  may  become  inflamed  and  painful,  with 
certain  Hopes  that  the  M.atter  of  the  Difeafe  will 
there  fettle  and  form  an  Abfcefs.  Thus  no  Phy- 
fician  can  cure  the  word  confluent  kind  of  the 
Small-pox,  unlefs  he  procures  the  Feet  to  be  almoft 
gangrenous,  by  the  Application  of  Epifpaftics, 
Fomentations,  £sfV.  and  it  has  been  my  Practice 
in  this  Cafe,  to  apply  a  Pultice  of  Bread  and  Milk 
to  the  Feet,  renewing  it  Day  and  v  ight,  till  they 
fwell,  becorhe  painful  and  much  difeafed ;  but  in 
the  mean  time  this  diverts  the  Diforder  from  the 
Head  and  Bread.  But  Sydenham  has  long  ago 
obferved,  that  the  Danger  of  the  confluent  Small- 
pox is  to  be  eftimated  from  the  Number  of  Erup- 

O  tions 


*94-       Signs  of  Difeafes.    §.  957c 

tions  which  come  forth  in  the  Head.  But  if  con- 
trary to  this  in  an  acute  Fever,  I  fhould  let  the 
Feet  be  cold,  and  apply  warm  things  to  the  Head, 
then  a  Phrenzy  would  enfue,  rather  from  the 
Effects  of  Art,  than  from  the  Nature  of  the 
Difeafe. 

§.  957.  From  all  that  has  been  faid  (§.951, 
to  957.  J  it  appears  to  us  that  the  Knowledge 
of  Concodtion  and  Crifis  is  highly  neceffary, 
in  order  to  make  a  juft  Prefage  in  Difeales  5 
and  it  is  alfo  evident,  that  this  can  hardly  be 
attained  any  other  way,  than  from  having 
known  or  examined  the  vital  Powers  as  the 
principal  Caufe  of  thefe  Changes ;  but  thefe 
laft  are  chiefly  to  be  judged  of  by  the  Pulfe 
and  Refpiration,  which  will  therefore  engage 
us  here  to  treat  of  them  firft ;  but  as  alfo  the 
Urine  is  an  Excrement  feparated  from  the 
whole  Mafs  of  Blood,  and  from  every  Part 
of  the  Body  expelled  thro'  the  Outlets  by  the 
Vis  Vitae ;  therefore  this  alfo  will  require  a 
careful  Confederation,  in  order  to  point  out 
the  State  of  the  Blood,  and  the  Concoction 
or  Crifis. 


<rbe 


§•  959- 


195 


The  Pulfe  of  the  Arteries  conjidered  as 
a  Sign. 

§.  958.  QINCE  the  Pulfe  of  the  Arteries 
lj  (§.  2  7,  & feq.)  reports  the  pre- 
cife  Condition  of  the  Heart  1  as  the  firft 
Mover,  and  alfo  the  Difpofition.  Quantity 
and  Motion  of  our  whole  Mafs  of  Humours, 
the  Blood,  from  whence  all  the  reft  are  de- 
rived, and  a^  it  alfo  fhews  the  different  State 
of  the  Artery  itfelf,  which  is  almoft  the  prin- 
cipal or  primary  VefTel  in  all  Parts  of  the 
Body;  it  is  therefore  evident  from  hence,  that 
the  Doctrine  of  the  Pulfe  is  of  the  laft  Import- 
ance, towards  difcovering  the  Nature  and 
Events  of  Difeafes  by  the  prefent  Signs. 

1  There  is  no  need  of  any  Arguments  to  lhew 
the  Ufefulnefs  of  Pulfesas  a  Sign  in  Difeafes,  fince 
like  an  Index  they  point  out  the  Nature  of  the 
Blood,  from  whence  all  the  other  Humours  in  the 
Body  are  derived,  together  with  the  Strength  and 
Condition  of  the  Heartand  Arteries,  whieharepro- 
perly  the  Springs  from  whence  all  other  Changes 
in  the  human  Body  arife. 

§.  959.  A  ftrcng  Pulfe  therefore  denotes, 
1.  a  great  mufcular  ForGe  of  the  Heart's  Con- 
traction, and  confequently  that  the  contract- 
O  2  in£ 


196        Signs  of  thePulfe.    §.  959; 

ing  Caufes  thereof  are  powerful;  that  is,  2.  a 
ftrong  and  copious  Influx  of  the  nervous  Juice 
from  the  Cerebellum  into  the  Fibres  of  the 
Heart;  3.  that  there  is  a  Plenty  of  Blood, 
and  4.  that  the  Circulation  and  Secretion  of 
the  Humours  is  carried  on  very  well  \  Such 
a  Pulfe  is  therefore  a  good  Sign,  if  it  is  found 
the  fame  throughout  the  whole  Body  in  all  its 
Parts.  But  it  is  often  fallacious  in  apoplectic 
Diforders,  and  in  fome  others  where  there  is  a 
free  PafTage  from  the  Heart  to  the  Cerebel- 
lum, and  from  thence  to  the  Heart  again, 
while  the  Courfe  of  the  Blood  and  Spirits  is 
much  obftru&ed  in  the  other  Parts,  efpecially 
in  the  Vifcera. 

.  1  The  Pulfe  of  the  Artery  can  never  be  ftrong, 
unlefs  the  Heart  ftrongly  propels  much  Blood  into 
it;  but  the  Heart  itfelf  has  no  Blood  but  what  it 
receives  from  the  Lungs,  which  again  receive  it 
from  the  Veins,  as  the  Veins  return  it  from  the 
Arteries.  A  ftrong  Pulfe  therefore  demonflrar.es, 
that  the  Heart  is  ftrong,  that  the  Lungs  are  per- 
vious, that  the  Communications  betwixt  the  Ar- 
teries and  Veins  are  free,  and  that  the  whole  Cir- 
culation of  the  Blood  is  regularly  performed  :  only 
in  an  Apoplexy  this  Sign  is  fallacious,  fince  the 
Pulfe  therein  continues  good  and  very  ftrong  even 
until  Death,  becaufe  the  Brain  only  in  this  Cafe  is 
affected,  without  injuring  the  Heart  and  Cere- 
bellum. But  there  is  alfo  another  way  of  making 
a  difeafed  Pulfe  deceive  the  Phyfician  ;  for  if  the 
Patient  grafps  his  Hand  fo  as  to  comprefs  the  Veins 
by  the  Contraction  of  the  Mufcles;  the  Blood  will 
by  that  means  be  accumulated,  and  diftend  the  Ar- 
tery 


§.  g6i.    Signs  of  thePulfe.  197 

tery  with  a  greater  Force.  It  is  therefore  prudent 
to  examine  the  Pulfe,  not  in  one  Place  only,  but  in 
feveral,  in  the  Wrift,  Temples,  &c* 

§.  960.  A  weak  Pulfe  then  denotes  every  \ 
thing  contrary  to  the  former  (§.  959.)  but 
then  this  is  alfo  fometimes  fallacious  in  thofe 
who  are  very  fat  r. 

«  For  in  thcfe,  1.  the  circum  jacent  Fat  buries  the 
Force  of  the  Ictus ;  2.  and  the  more  Fat  abounds, 
the  lefs  Blood  is  there  in  Proportion  ;  but  the 
Strength  of  the  Pulfe  depends  on  the  Quantity  of 
Blood,  and  therefore  a  weak  Pulfe  in  a  fat  Perfon 
prefages  lefs  111. 

§.961.  A  large  or  full1  Pulfe  denotes,  r. 
Plenty  of  Blood;  2.  Strength  of  the  Heart; 
3.  that  the  Artery  is  free  or  pervious  and  con- 
tractile ;  4.  that  there  is  a  good  Circulation 
and  Secretion.  A  fmall  Pulfe  denotes  the 
contrary.  From  hence  a  full  or  empty  Pulfe 
may  be  likewife  underftood,  fo  far  as  they  are 
actually  obferved. 

1  A  full  Pulfe  differs  not  from  a  large  one,  un- 
lefs  perhaps  in  having  a  very  great  Diaftole  and 
fmall  Syftole.  But  the  Generality  of  phyfical 
Writers  do  not  fpeak  of  this  Pulfe,  as  attending 
inflammatory  Difeafes,  where  the  Pulfe -never  ceafes 
to  be  full,  becaufe  the  Artery  is  not  able  to  urge 
forward  the  thick  Blood  but  they  in  a  manner 
confound  the  full  and  the  large  Pulfe  together. 


198        Signs  of  thePulfe.  §.962. 


§.  962.  But  a  hard1  Pulfe,  which  is  fp 
much  talked  oif,  denotes  many  particulars ; 
as,  1 .  That  the  Coats  2  of  the  Artery  are  drier 
than  natural ;  and  therefore,  2.  that  there  are 
Obftrudtions  in  the  fmalleft  Veffels  interwove 
in  the  Tunics  or  Membranes  of  the  Artery  ; 
3.  that  the  Arteries  are  full 5  of  Blood;  but 
that,  4.  the  Extremities  of  the  Capillaries  are 
obftru&ed  with  an  inflammatory  Tenacity ; 
5.  that  the  Blood  itfelf  is  very  thick  and  com- 
pacT: ;  whence,  6.  the  Circulation,  Secretions 
and  Excretions  are  difturbed  or  perverted;  and 
laftly,  7.  all  the  numerous  ill  Confequences  4 
which  follow  from  thefe  feveral  Particulars. 
But  a  Joft 5  Pulfe  denotes  every  thing  con- 
trary, though  in  an  acute  Peripneumony  it  is 
extremely  fallacious. 

*  This  is  when  the  Pulfe  feems  to  the  Finger  of 
the  Phyfician  like  a  hard  Stick  or  a  Quill,  hardly 
contracting  or  dilating  itfelf,  but  continuing  almoft 
equally  extended. 

*  In  this  Cafe  the  Artery  feems  hard,  not  from, 
the  Fault  of  the  Blood,  but  of  its  own  Subftance  5 
fince  the  minute  Arteries  of  Ruyfch  being  over 
filled,  inflamed  and  diftended,  refill  the  Finger  in 
the  fame  manner,  as  we  obferve  a  Bladder  feel  hard 
when  it  is  filled  with  Water. 

3  As  the  Piedmont  Phyfician  obferves  in  Bon- 
netus9  that  this  happens  in  an  acute  inflammatory 
Fever,  namely,  that  there  is  always  a  great  deal 
of  thick  Blood  found  in  the  Arteries,  and  but  little 
and  dilute  in  the  Veins. 


Namely,, 


§.  g6 3 .    Signs  of  the.  Pulfe.  199 

4  Namely,  that  all  the  more  fluid  Parts  will 
run  off  into  the  lateral  Veffels,  whence  the  Blood 
will  become  denfe  or  thick,  &V. 

5  A  foft  Pulfe  is  therefore  a  good  Sign  in  all 
inflammatory  Difeafes,  except  a  Peripneumony, 
in  which  a  foft  Pulfe  is  a  bad  Sign,  and  a  hard  one 
is  good :  for  in  this  Difeafe  the  foftnefs  of  the  Pulfe 
arifes  from  the  Obftruclion  of  the  Blood  in  its 
Paffage  thro'  the  Lungs,  whence  little  or  none  of 
it  is  tranfmitted  thro'  the  pulmonary  Arteries. 

§.  963.  A  rare  Pulfe  denotes  that  in  a  given 
time  there  are,  1.  fewer  contractions  of  the 
Heart;  and  that  therefore,  2.  there  is  a  flower 
Influx  of  Spirits  from  the  Cerebellum  thro' 
the  Nerves  into  the  Fibres  of  the  Heart ; 
3.  that  the  Circulation  of  the  Blood  is  free 
a?id  equable  1  ;  and,  4.  that  the  Circulation 
of  the  Humours  is  eafily  performed  through 
all  the  Veflbls.  But  if  the  flownefs  of  the 
Pulfe  proceeds  from  Weaknefs,  it  is  to  be 
efteemed  a  bad  and  dangerous  Sign.  But  a 
frequent  Pulfe  denotes  the  contrary,  and  alfo 
that  there  is  fome  acrid  or  irritating  Stimulus, 
that  the  Spirits  are  agitated,  and  that  a  Fever, 
or  Delirium  either  does,  or  will  foon  attend. 

1  A  Perfon  in  Health  is  always  warm,  and 
warmer  in  Proportion  as  Health  is  more  perfectly 
enjoyed;  ,but  this  Heat  depends  on  the  Quantity 
of  Blood  tranfmitted  through  the  Arteries  in  a 
given  time,  and  therefore  the  mod  healthy  People 
are  warmed.  But  the  Pulfe  of  a  Perfon  in  Health 
is  flow,  which  demonftrates  the  Heart  is  at  each 
Action  perfectly  filled  and  emptied  j  but  when  the 
O  4  Pulfe 


200       Signs  of  the  Pulfe.    §.  966. 

Pulfe  is  quick,  fome  of  the  Blood  is  retained  in, 
and  irritates  the  Heart  at  each  Syftole,  whence  the 
Heart  moves  very  quick  indeed,  but  does  not  urge 
forward  the  Blood  as  it  6ught  and  hence  appears 
the  reafon  why  a  quick  Pulfe  is  almoft  constantly 
unequal  at  the  fame  time.  And  this  is  the  State 
of  the  Pulfe  in  dying  People,  who  have  it  always 
very  quick.  But  when  the  Heart  perfectly  emp- 
ties itfelf  at  each  Syftole,  while  the  Pulfe  is  very 
quick,  then  Death  muft  foon  follow  from  the 
too  great  Attrition  and  Violence  of  the  Fever.  A 
Quicknefs  of  the  Pulfe  therefore  generally  in- 
dicates the  Obftru&ion  in  a  great  Part  of  the  Ar- 
teries but  if  a  third  part  of  the  arterial  Syftem  is 
obftrucled,  the  Blood  muft  of  Neceffity  pafs  one 
third  part  more  fwiftly  through  the  pervious  Ar- 
teries. 

§.  964.  A  Pulfe  equal  in  Strength  and 
Frequency  is  good,  as  it  denotes  a  Continu- 
ance of  Life  5  and  therefore  an  unequal  Pulfe 
is  bad. 

§.  965.  An  intermitting  1  Pulfe  denoting 
the  vital  Powers  to  be  weak  or  inftable,  is 
therefore  pernicious. 

1  It  is  a  Sign  that  Life  participates  of  Death, 
or  that  the  Heart  fometimes  flops  ;  but  if  the 
JHeart  ceafes  to  move  till  the  Arteries  have  emptied 
themfelves,  anddifcharged  all  their  Blood  into  the 
Veins,  then  a  Syncope  and  Death  itfelf  muft  inevi- 
tably follow. 

§.  966.  A  Pulfe  therefore  which  is  ftrong, 
large,  equal,  and  flow  at  the  fame  time,  is  of 

all 


§.967-    Signs  of  the  Pulfe.  201 

all  the  beft ;  one  that  is  large  and  ftrong, 
ftrong  and  flow,  or  large  and  flow  at  the  fame 
time,  is  a  good  Pulfe.  But  a  weak,  fmall, 
hard,  unequal,  intermitting,  and  at  the  fame 
time  frequent  Pulfe,  is  of  all  the  wor/l  1 ;  and 
fo  much  the  worfe  is  the  Pulfe,  as  attended 
with  more  of  thefe  Circumftances  at  the  fame 
time,  and  the  Reverie. 

1  The  Pulfe  which  has  all  thefe  malignant  Cha- 
racters joined  together,  is  certainly  a  fatal  Sign  ; 
nor  have  we  an  Inftance  of  a  Perfon  efcaping  af- 
ter it  j  as  on  the  other  hand,  I  cannot  beiieve  that 
a  Patient  ever  perifhed  with  a  large,  ftrong,  flow, 
and  conftant  Pulfe. 

§.  967.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may 
eafily  underftand  the  moufe-like  \  or  creeping 
Pulfe,  the  ferrate  %  or  knotty  Pulfe,  as  alfo 
the  undulating  3  and  rebounding  4  Pulfe. 

1  Galen*  and  the  other  Phyficians,  have  made 
too  fubtle  Diftinctions  of  Pulfes,  many  of  which 
are  without  any  Ufe.  The  principal  Caufes  of 
thefe  Variations,  are  either  an  Aneurifm  of  the 
Artery,  a  Tumor,  or  Diftortion  of  it  from  its 
proper  Place.  It  is  called  moufe-like,  or  creeping, 
becaufe  from  a  full  Pulfe,  it  becomes,  by  degrees, 
none  at  ill,  like  as  the  Tail  of  a  Moufe  grows 
gradually  fmaller  nearer  its  Extremity  or  Tip. 
This  Pulfe  takes  place  when  the  Heart  does  not 
fill  the  Arteries  to  their  Extremities. 

1  This  is  when  the  Artery  beats  well  in  one 
part  and  not  in  another,  being  evident  enough  in 
one  Place,  and  in  another  not  to  be  perceived ; 
but  it  may  be  well  doubted,  whether  ever  there  is 

any 


hot        Signs  of  the  Pulfe.  §.968. 

any  fuch  thing  as  a  true  ferrate  Pulfe  ;  or  if  there 
is,  it  would  feem  to  be  caufed  by  an  Aneurifm  or 
Fracture  in  the  Bones. 

3  The  caprizant  Pulfe  is  to  be  perceived  in  the 
upper  or  lower  Part,  but  hardly  at.all  in  the  Mid- 
dle, from  an  Aneurifm,  Tumor,  &c.  fo  that  it 
feems  to  dance,  or  undulate,  by  ftriking  the  Fin- 
ger in  one  Place,  and  not  in  another. 

4  The  dicrotic,  or  rebounding  Pulfe,  which 
feems  to  ftrike  double  in  the  Contraction  of  the 
Artery,  is  a  Sign  of  great  Inflammation,  that  the 
Arteries  are  very  full,  and  that  the  Heart  ftrongly 
urges  the  Blood  into  them.  This  is  one  kind  of 
the  hard  Pulfe.  When  the  Phyfician  examines  the 
Pulfe  in  each  Arm,  and  in  one  finds  the  Pulfe  to 
be  double  in  the  fame  time,  and  not  fo  in  the 
other  Arm,  the  Caufe  may  pofiibly  be  an  Aneu- 
rifm repelling  again  the  Blood  of  that  Arm. 

§.  g68,  From  the  Doctrine  of  Pulfes,  we 
are  again  taught  the  Signification  of  Heat  in 
the  Body,  as  it  is  an  Effect  of  the  Pulfe ;  for 
if  denotes  a  Narrownefs  of  the  Veffel,  a  Den- 
fity  and  ftrong  Propulfion  and  Attrition  1  of 
the  Humours,  and  great  Refiftances  about  the 
Ends  of  the  Veffels ;  and  hence,  a  diminifhed 
Heat  denotes  the  contrary ;  and  hence  alfo, 
the  Relation  of  Heat  and  Cold,  with  refpefh 
to  the  Diognofis  and  Prognofis  of  Difeafes, 
may  be  underftood. 

1  Heat  is  perceptible  in  an  inflamed  Part,  be- 
caufe  the  obftrudted  Veffels  refift  the  Blood,  which 
is  more  fwiftly  and  powerfully  urged  forward  by 
the  Heart.  This  Heat  does  not  arife  from  a  ferr 
mentation  -3  for  if  a  Perfon,  having-  a  violent  In- 
flammation 


§.969-    Signs  of  the  Pulfe.  203 

flammation  in  ibme  Part,  faints  away,  that  Part 
becomes  as  cold  as  any  of  the  reft ;  and  if  a 
Perfon  dies,  the  PJace  which  before  in  a  man- 
ner glowed  with  inflammatory  Heat,  becomes  as 
perfectly  cold  as  the  reft  of  the  Body.  The  Heat 
of  the  Blood  and  Humours  is  therefore  derived 
from  the  Motion  and  Attrition  of  the  VefTels,  as 
indicated  by  the  Pulfe ;  and  therefore  the  Pulfe 
being  increafed,  the  Heat  will  be  augmented,  and 
the  Reverfe. 

§.  969.  But  it  ought  to  be  remember 'd,  that 
the  Nature  of  the  particular  Artery  with  the 
Age,  Sex,  Paflions  of  the  Mind,  and  fix  Non- 
naturals  ;  as  alfo  the  natural  or  acquired  Habit 
of  the  Patient's  Body,  with  the  Climate  or 
Country,  and  Seafon  of  the  Year,  may  all  of 
them  wonderfully  change  1  the  Pulfe.  And 
what  is  of  great  Ufe,  the  Order  a  wherein  fe- 
veral  Pulfes  fucceed  each  other,  ought  like- 
wife  to  be  remembered.  . 

1  If  we  count  the  Pulfes  by  a  Watch  or  a  Clock, 
which  has  a  Hand  fhewing  the  Seconds  of  a  Mi- 
nute, we  find  that  they  are  one  third  Part  flower 
and  weaker  in  the  Morning  fading,  than  they  are 
in  the  fame  Perfon  an  Hour  after  a  Meal.  If 
again  the  Pulfes  of  a  Perfon  at  reft,  be  compared 
with  thofe  of  a  Man  in  anger,  or  heated  by  Ex- 
ercife,  there  will  be  found  a  very  wide  Difference  ; 
nor  even  are  the  Pulfes  of  any  two  People  in 
Health  to  be  obferved  in  the  fame  Number ; 
and  therefore  the  Phyfician  ought  cautioufly  to  al- 
low for  all  thefe  Particulars,  in  order  to  preferve 
bis  Character,  and  form  a,  juft  Eftimate  by  the 
fulfe. 

A  ftrong 


204       Signs  of  the  Pulfe.    §.  970. 

a  A  ftrong  Pulfe  following  a  weak  one,  is  al- 
ways good,  as  a  weak  one  following  a  ftronger, 
is  bad. 

§.  970.  But  the  Pulfe  ought  to  be  very 
ftri&ly  attended  to,  inafmuch  as  it  points  out 
to  us  the  Nature  of  the  morbific  Matter  to  be 
concocted  or  moved,  the  various  Motions  1  of 
it,  that  is  prepared  for  Excretion,  and  when 
it  is  juft  upon  a  Crilis,  or  Beginning  to  be 
feparated  ;  for  in  this  Cafe,  it  indicates  the 
time  when  it  is  moft  convenient  for  acting  or 
affifting  the  Patient  by  Art,  and  the  Manner 
how,  with  many  other  Particulars. 

1  Frequently  acute  Difeafes  are  by  the  befl:  Phy- 
ficians  judged  defperate,  at  that  time  when  Life 
gets  the  better ;  namely,'  when  the  critical  Matter 
attenuated  by  the  vital  Powers  begins  to  move,  then 
the  Pulfe  is  difturbed,  trembles  or  intermits,  and 
feems  to  threaten  every  thing  that  is  ill,  whence 
one  might  believe  that  the  Patient  will  be  loft, 
when  in  a  little  time  he  perfectly  recovers.  This 
may  be  underftood  of  the  Atrabilis,  when  diffolved 
by  the  Ufe  of  Garden  Fruits  in  the  Summer-time, 
and  when  returning  into  the  Blood,  it  affects  the 
Lungs. — In  Women  with  Child,  and  thofe  who 
give  Suck,  there  is  a  wonderful  Variation  of  the 
Pulfe,  which  may  feduce  the  Phyfician  into  capital 
Errors,  if  he  forms  a  Judgment  or  Prognofis  from 
the  Pulfe  alone.  Nor  is  a  Horror  or  Trembling 
always  of  bad  Prefage,  for  in  many  Cafes  it  indi- 
cates, that  the  foreign  Matter  abhorred  by  Na- 
ture begins  to  be  overpowered  and  conquered  by 
her. 


§.  971-  205 


Of  Signs  ^Respiratio 


N. 


§.  971.  A  N  eafy  Refpiration1  which  is 
jrj^  conftant  or  equable,  and  with- 
out Pain,  denotes  that  in  Difeafes  all  the 
Organs  fubfervient  to  breathing  are  in  a  good 
and  healthy  Condition,  that  the  Lungs  eafily 
dilate  or  expand  themfelves,  that  the  Blood  is 
freely  transmitted  through  them,  and  that 
therefore  it  is  difpofed  to  circulate  through  all 
the  other  Veffels %  of  the  Body,  whence  fuch 
a  Refpiration  is  always  a  very  good  Sign.  But 
a  difficult  Refpiration  denotes  every  thing  con- 
trary, and  is  therefore  always  one  of  the  worft 
Prefages. 

1  This  Sign  was  always  confidered  as  the  chief 
by  Hippocrates*  who  has  left  us  many  Obfervations 
upon  the  Refpiration,  but  very  few  ,upon  the 
Pulfe. 

*  The  Lungs  are  in  a  Manner  an  Epitome  of 
the  whole  Body,  as  to  its  vafcular  Composition, 
having  as  many  Series  of  Veffels  as  the  reft  of  the 
Body  and  therefore  the  Blood  which  can  flow 
freely  through  the  Veffels  of  the  Lungs,  may  make 
an  eafy  Circuit  through  all  the  reft  of  the  Body. 
On  the  other  hand,  when  Refpiration  is  difficult, 
all  the  Blood  which  is  expelled  from  the  Arteries 
through  the  Veins,  and  which  is  obliged  to  pafs 
through  the  Lungs,  before  it  can  enter  the  left 
Ventricle  of  the  Heart,  will  be  accumulated  and 

obftru&ed 


2  0 6    Of  Signs  hy  Refpiration.  §.974^ 

obftru&ed  in  the  Lungs,  whence  the  CEconomy 
of  the  whole  Body  muit  neceflarily  be  difturbed. 

§.  972.  But  the  Refpiration  which  is  per- 
formed with  great  Pain  \  generally  denotes 
fome  internal  Inflammation,  and  is  therefore 
always  a  very  bad  Sign. 

1  It  is  always  a  Sign  of  Inflammation  in  fome 
of  the  Organs  of  Refpiration,  and  ought  never 
to  be  neglected;  fince  an  Inflammation  in  thefe 
Parts  is  highly  mifchievous,  and  fuddenly  increafes 
from  a  fmall  to  a  very  large  one ;  in  a  word,  a 
fmall  Inflammation  here  is  to  be  fufpected,  and 
a  large  one  is  almoft  conftantly  fatal. 

§.  973.  A  large  1  or  deep  Refpiration,  al- 
ways denotes  that  the  Thorax  is  in  itfelf 
eafily  dilatabte,  that  the  Diaphragm  is  duly 
difpofed  to  move,  and  the  Abdomen  eafily  ex- 
panded ;  that  the  Blood  eafily  pervades  the 
Lungs,  and  that  the  vital  Powers  are  firm,  or 
in  good  Condition,  whence  fuch  a  Refpiration 
is  always  of  good  Import  in  Difeafes. 

1  That  is,  when  a  great  deal  of  Air  is  admitted 
at  one  Infpiration,  which  fometimes  is  render'd 
fmall  from  the  too  great  contractile  Power  of  the 
mufculi  Mefochondriaci,  refilling  the  Air. 

§.  974.  A  fmall  or  fhort  Refpiration,  de- 
notes every  thing  contrary  to  the  former,  (§. 
973  )  and  more  efpeciallv,  declares,  that  the 
Lungs  are  fluffed  up  with  Blood  or  other  Mat- 
ter, to  which  they  are  not  pervious  but  rigid  ; 

or 

8 


|.  976.    Of  Signs  hy  Refpifation.  207 

or  elfe  that  the  Wind-pipe,  or  its  Branches, 
being  compreffed  or  obstructed  with  fome 
Sort  of  Humour  or  Matter,  are  fcarce  capable 
of  admitting  the  Air ;  whence  it  is  a  very  bad 
Sign. 

§.  975.  A  flow  Refpiration  demonftrates, 
that  the  Lungs  are  equally  free  and  capable  of  , 
Expanfion;  that  the  Blood  is  pervious  through 
them,  and  equably  circulated  or  propelled  for- 
ward ;  and  therefore  fuch  a  Refpiration  is  a 
very  good  Sign,  when  there  is  no  XJneafinefi  \ 
nor  Diforder  of  the  Senfes  \ 

1  Such,  namely,  as  may  oblige  the  Patient  to 
breathe  flowiy,  to  avoid  the  Severity  of  Pain, 
whence  they  rather  chufe  to  be  fuffocated  than  to 
breathe  quick.  When  the  Refpiration  is  flow 
without  thefe  Caufes,  it  is  always  a  good  Sign, 
and  is  even  the  bed  of  thofe  which  prefage  well. 

a  When  the  Mind  does  not  attend  to  the  Un- 
eafinefs,  and  the  Patient  does  not  breathe  quick 
enough  in  proportion  to  the  Neceflity,  then  the 
Phyfician  is  often  deceived,  and  miftakes  that  for  a 
good  Sign,  which  is  the  Forerunner  of  Death.  A 
flow  and  large  Refpiration  therefore  in  ardent  Fe- 
vers, having  a  long  Interval  betwixt  Expiration 
and  lnfpiration,  and  without  a  Crifisor  other  good 
Signs,  is  always  to  be  fufpected  for  the  Patient 
is  then  ufually  convulfed  or  delirious  on  the  next 
Day,  and  expires  foon  after. 

§.  976.  A  quick  1  Refpiration  denotes  that 
the  Organs  of  breathing  are  injured,  that  the 
Lungs  are  obftructed,  ftifT,  or  dry,  and  the 

Blood 


2  o  8    Of  Signs  hy  Refpiration.  §.978. 

Blood  indifpofed  to  circulate  through  them, 
mid  therefore  always  brings  fomething  of 
Danger  with  it. 

1  The  Lungs  tranfmit  a  greater  Quantity  of 
Blood  by  acting  in  Refpiration,  than  if  they  were 
at  reft.  If  now  a  greater  Quantity  of  Blood  is  to 
be  moved  through  the  Lungs  in  a  given  time,  the 
Refpiration  muft'  neceffarily  become  quicker,  in 
order  to  tranfmit  fuch  a  greater  Quantity  ;  and  on 
the  other  hand,  if  the  Quantity  of  Blood  remains 
the  fame,  and  the  Refpiration  becomes  twice  as 
fmall,  it  muft  alfo  become  twice  as  quick,  fince 
without  that,  one  half  of  the  Blood  will  ftagnatein 
the  Lungs,  and  by  degrees  more  comprefs  the 
Air-vefTels,  till  they  are  at  length  wholly  oppref- 
fed  ;  the  Confequence  of  which,  if  not  timely  re- 
moved, muft  be  Death. 

§.  977.  An  equal  Refpiration  indicates,  that 
the  Lungs  and  Organs  are  in  good  Condition, 
and  that  the  Blood  is  well  attenuated,  whence 
it  is  of  good  Import ;  but  an  unequal  Refpira- 
tion declares  the  immediate  Caufes  of  Life  to 
be  in  danger,  and  is  therefore  always  of  bad 
Import. 

§.  978.  A  fuffocative  Refpiration,  in  which 
the  Patient  perceives  a  Senfe  of  choaking,  be- 
fpeaks  that  the  Lungs  are  inflamed,  obftrudt- 
ed, overfilled1  or  disordered  by  Stiffnefs  and 
Drinefs,  alfo  that  the  Blood  is  impervious ; 
hence  it  proves  fatal  in  a  little  time,  unlefs 
when  it  proceeds  from  a  flight  convulfive  Caufe 
in  hyfterical1  and  hypochondriacal  People,  or 

1  in 


§ .  979*  Of  S*gns  h  Refpiration.  2og 
in  thofe  who  have  been  aceuftomed  to  an 
Aflhma. 

1  This  is  a  kind  of  Death  which  generally  ter- 
minates acute  Diieafes  ;  namely,  the  Arteries  of 
the  Lungs  are  fo  diftended  with  Blood,  that  they 
can  tranimit  none  to  the  Veins  and  left  Ventricle 
of  the  Heart;  whence  the  Pulfe  intermits,  cold 
Sweats  break  out,  and  after  Death  the  Lungs  are 
found  heavy  and  extremely  full  of  black  Blood  in 
their  arterial  Syftem,  while  their  venal  Syftem  is 
empty,  and  whereas  the  Lungs  of  a  healthy  Perfon 
are  extremely  light  or  fpongy. 

z  It  is  true*  that  hyftericai  Women^  hypochon- 
driacal Men,  and  efpecially  thofe  who  are  troubled 
with  an  Afthma,  are  fometimes  invaded  with  a 
fuffocating^Refpiration,  perfe&ly  like  that  of  a  dy- 
ing Perfon  :  but  thefe  when  they  feem  to  be  about 
expiring,  are  commonly  relieved  of  a  fudden  ;  for 
the  convulfive  Spafm,  which  fuppreflfed  the  Re- 
fpiration,  is  removed  when  the  Patient  is  thereby 
render'd  extremely  weak.  Such  a  Strangling 
arifes  from  the  Fumes  of  burning  Sulphur,  which 
by  exciting  a  Convulfion  of  the  Mufculi  Mefd- 
chondriaci  fuppreffjs  the  Infpiration. 

§.  979.  Refpiration  carried  on  in  the  uppef 
Part  of  the  Thorax,  denotes  the  very  worft 
Condition  of  the  Lu?igs  1  fluffed  up,  and 
therefore  that  Life  is  in  danger  by  this  almoft 
fatal  Sign; 

1  In  this  Cafe  fonle  Humour  or  Matter  Mag- 
nates in  the  Lungs,  which  cannot  be  urged  thro* 
its  VefTels  by  the  ordinary  Powers  of  Refpiration ; 
whence  Nature  makes  various  Attempts,  and  ex- 

P  cites 


2io  Of  Signs  hy  Refpiration.  §.981. 

cites  wonderful  Agitations  of  the  Body,  in  order 
to  propel  the  Blood  a  little  more  powerfully  thro' 
the  obftructed  VefTels.  We  begin  to  die  from  the 
Extremities  upwards,  the  fuperior  Parts  continu- 
ing longed  alive.  This  Sign  therefore  denotes, 
that  the  lower  Parts  do  not  tranfmit  the  Blood, 
being  almoft  dead ;  whence  all  the  Blood  takes  its 
Courfe  to  the  fuperior  Parts,  when  we  fee  that 
Nature  ufes  her  utmoft  Efforts  to  continue  Life  as 
long  as  poflible,  by  elevating  the  whole  Thorax, 
as  we  obferve  it  commonly  in  Women,  This  al- 
fo  follows  from  violent  Running,  but  goes  off 
again  by  Reft.  This  is  the  fublime  or  high  Re- 
fpiration, which  Hippocrates  fo  frequently  con- 
demns. 

§.  980.  A  high  1  Refpiration  which  is  per- 
formed with  an  Elevation  of  the  Clavicles,  an 
Agitation  of  the  Sternum,  a  Motion  of  the 
Shoulders,  a  drawing  up  of  the  Noftrils,  with 
a  violent  Agitation  of  the  Abdomen  and  lower 
Ribs,  is  mortal ;  for  it  fignifies  that  the  Mo- 
tion of  the  Blood  through  the  Lungs  is  ex- 
tremely difficult,  and  that  the  vital  Powers  are 
at  the  fame  time  weak  or  deficient. 

1  This  always  attends  before  Death,  unlefs  the 
Perfon  is  extinguifhed  quietly  by  a.  mere  Deficien- 
cy of  the  vital  Powers,  or  extreme  old  Age. 

§.  981.  An  eafy>  large  \  flow,  equal,  and 
refrefhing  Refpiration,  performed  only  by  a 
gentle  Motion  of  the  intercoftal  and  abdomi- 
nal Mufcles,  with  the  Diaphragm,  is  the  moft 
healthy  \  and  the  Refpiration,  which  has  moft 


'  §.  984*  Qf  Signs  by  Refpiration.  211 

of  thefe  Conditions,  muft  be  followed  with 
the  bell  Confequences. 

■  Even  Galen  long  ago  allures  us,  that  no  one 
ever  yielded  to  the  Dileafe  under  thefe  Signs  ; 
which  is  alio  my  own  firm  Belief. 

§.  982.  A  difficult,  painful,  fhort,  quick, 
fobbing,  unequal,  fuffocative,  and  high  Re- 
fpiration, performed  by  the  utmoft  Endea- 
vours of  all  the  Mufcles  attached  to  the  Ribs, 
is  infallibly  mortal ;  and  the  Refpiration  which 
has  the  moft  of  thefe  Faults  is  the  worft. 

§.983.  The  Breath  feeming  cold1  is  a  fatal 
Sign,  as  it  is  almoft  conftantly  a  Forerunner  of 
a  Gangrene  of  the  Vifcera  and  VefTels  within. 

■  \yhen  the  Air  breathed  out  againft  the  Back 
of  the  Hand  feems  as  cold  as  that  which  is  drawn 
in,  it  is  a  Sign  that  the  Lungs  and  their  contained 
Blood  are  reduced  almoft  to  the  Temperature  of 
the  Atmofphere,  and  therefore  that  the  Patient  is 
near  Death  ;  otherwife  the  Lungs  and  Air  would 
be  heated  by  the  copious  and  fwirt  TranfmifTion  of 
the  Blood  ;  whence  this  Sign  is  without  exception 
a  mortal  Prefage. 

§.  984.  A  fmall  Refpiration,  with  a  fobbing 
or  fnoaring  Noife,  as  if  the  Lungs  and  Throat 
were  boiling  or  rattling,  is  quickly  mortal, 
efpecially  if  attended  with  other  bad  Signs  ; 
for  it  fignifies  almoft  conftantly,  that  the  vital 
Humours  are  accumulated  and  obftrucled  in 
their  PafTage  through  the  Lungs. 

P  2  This 


212  Of  Signs  by  Refpiration.  §.987. 

»  This  is  a  rattling  like  that  of  boiling  Water, 
arifing  when  the  pulmonary  BloocUvefTels  are  fo 
diftended  as  to  comprefs  the  Air-verTels ;  whence 
the  Air  admitted,  ftrikes  with  a  greater  Impetus, 
and  vibrates  more  powerfully  againft  thofe  Parts, 
which  being  comprefied  by  the  Blood-veffels  make, 
a  greater  Refiitance.  In  this  Cafe  it  is  ufual  for 
the  Patients  Friends  to  advife  them  to  fpit  up  the 
troublefome  Phlegm  but  the  Diforder  lies  in  the 
Blood  of  the  Lungs,  not  in  the  Bronchia :  it  is 
commonly  a  certain  Forerunner  of  Death,  never 
tailing  to  be  mortal,  though  fometimes  it  appears 
two  or  three  Days  before  Death. 

§.  985.  A  large  and  quick  Refpiration  is 
often  falutarv,  as  it  is  both  a  Sign  and  Caufe 
of  a  good  Concoction  and  Crifis. 

§.  986.  A  large  and  flow  Refpiration  de- 
notes the  Brain  obftructed,  and  the  Diforders 
which  may  thence  follow,  fuch  as  a  Coma, 
Lethargy,  Delirium,  &c\ 

§.  987.  But  in  the  mean  time  it  muft  be 
carefully  confide r'd,  that  the  Refpiration  may 
be  wonderfully  diilurbed  and  varied  in  diffe- 
rent 1  People  according  to  their  natural  Con- 
ftitutions,  with  the  different  Formation  of  the 
Thorax,  Lungs,  Diaphragm  and  Abdomen  5 
•  the  different  State  of  the  Air,  Age  and  Sex  % 
or  being  with  Child,  Paffions  of  the  Mind, 
Habit  of  Body,  Climate,  Seafon  of  the  Year^ 
Weather  \  and  the  like. 

1  There  are  hardly  ten  People  in  a  hundred  ha- 
ving the  fame  Number  of  Refpirations  in  a  given 
time  j  as  for  Example  in  an  Hour. 

The 


§.990.  Of  Signs  by  Refpiration.  213 

*  The  mod  healthy  Woman  breathes  much 
quicker  than  a  Man,  who  is  equally  in  Health  ; 
and  in  her  the  Scapulas  are  raifed,  which  in  a  Man 
would  be  a  mortal  Prefage  but  this  is  more  efpe- 
cially  to  be  obferved  in  Women  with  Child,  when 
the  diftended  Uterus  comprefles  and  leflens  the 
Thorax. 

3  We  have  no  Thermometer  fo  fenfible  as  the 
Dog;  for  that  Animal  difcharges  all  the  perfpi- 
rable  Matter  by  the  Mouth  in  Vapour.  Dr.  Keil 
and  Hales  compute  the  Area  or  Surface  of  the 
Lungs  to  be  equal  with  that  of  the  whole  Body  ; 
and  confidering  the  Laxity,  Heat  and  Vicinity  of 
this  Organ  to  the  Heart,  we  may  conclude  that 
there  is  an  incredible  Quantity  ot  Vapours  exhaled 
from  the  Lungs  hence  you  may  perceive  the 
Reafon  why  the  Dog  prefently  pants  after  an  In- 
creafe  of  Heat, 

§.988.  But  the  different  Order  in  which 
the  Changes  of  Refpiration  are  made  from 
one  to  the  other,  likewife  affords  much  Light 
into  the  Diagnoftics  and  Prognoftics  of  Dif- 
eafes ;  for  a  Change  from  a  bad  to  a  good  Re- 
fpiration, prefages  well;  but  from  a  good  Re- 
fpiration to  a  worfe,  the  contrary. 

§.  989.  Butthofe  Changes  which  happen 
in  the  Refpiration  for  the  better  about  the  time 
of  the  Crifis,  are  beft  of  all. 

§.  990.  Since  therefore  the  Refpiration 
points  out  to  us  at  once  the  prefent  Condition 
of  the  Heart,  Lungs,  Blood,  Juice  of  the  Ce- 
rebellum, and  of  the  Pleura,  Thorax,  Dia- 
P  3  phragm. 


214  Of  Signs  by "Refpiration*  §.  990. 

phragm  and  Abdomen  ;  it  is  evident,  that  ao. 
accurate  Obfervation  thereof  muft  be  of  the 
greateft  TJfe  1  and  Importance  in  all,  and  more 
efpecially  in  acute  Difeafes,  in  order  to  form  a 
juft  Diaguofis  and  Prognolis. 

1  Let  the  following  Experiment  be  made  take 
out  the  Lungs,  and  inflate  them  with  Air  by  the 
Wind-pipe    and  thus  you  will  fee  their  Capacity 
or  Dimenfions  ;  but  the  Lungs  fufpended  in  the 
warm  Thorax  admit  more  Air  than  when  they  are 
cold  and  taken  out ;  let  us  therefore  fuppofe  they 
contain  twice  as  much  in  the  living  Animal.  If 
now  the  pulmonary  Arteries  or  Veins  are  more  ex- 
tended without  increafing  the  Dimenfions  of  the 
Lungs,  this  muft  confequently  diminifh  their  Ca- 
pacity,  which  will  be  taken  up  by  the  dilated 
Blood- veffels.    If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Area  of 
the  Lungs  is  increafed  without  any  Augmentation 
of  the  Arteries  and  Veins,  the  Blood  muft  then  be 
diminifhed  in  its  Quantity  :  but  the  greater  Area 
the  Lungs  have,  th&  more  healthy  is  the  Pcrfon, 
fo  much  the  more  Air  is  taken  in  at  each  Infpira- 
tion,  and  fo  much  the  more  Blood  is  tranfmitted 
through  the  Lungs  at  each  Refpiration.,  and  there- 
fore a  free  Refpiration  is  always  flow  at  the  fame 
time.    On  the  contrary,  as  the  Blood  takes  up  a 
greater  Space  in  the  Lungs,  the  lefs  Air  can  be  re- 
ceived into  them  at  each  Infpiration  ;  and  the 
Mafs  of  Blood  to  be  tranfmitted,  being  in  this  Cafe 
larger,  while  the  infpired  Air  is  lefs  from  thefe 
two  Caufes,  the  Refpiration  muft  of  necefilty  be- 
come quicker.    From  all  this  it  is  evident,  with 
what  Certainty  a  Phyfician  may  deduce  a  Prognofis 
from  the  Refpiration. 


Of 


§-99r- 


aS/Vw  Urine. 

§.  991.  TTE  that  is  about  to  form  a  Judg- 
ment  concerning  the  State  of 
the  Body  from  the  Infpection  of  the  Urine  \ 
ought  to  remember,  ij  that  the  Urine  of  a 
found  Perfon  compared  together  at  different 
times,  or  with  the  Urine  of  other  found  Peo- 
ple, is  various  according  to  the  Age  \  Sex  \ 
Habit,  Seafon  of  the  Tear  4,  the  Ufc  of  the 
fix  Non-?iaturah  s >  and  of  Medicines;  and 
that  therefore,  2.in'giving  his  Judgment  from 
the  Urine,  he  ought  to  confider,  and  at  the 
fame  time  carefully  attend  to  the  other  appa- 
rent Signs  in  Difeafes ;  for  without  this  Pre- 
caution, his  Judgment  may  be  very  much 
deceived 6. 

1  The  Prefages  formed  from  hence  by  a  prudent 
Phyfician  attending  on  the  Patient  are  more  certain ; 
whereas  they  are  falfe  and  ridiculous  which  are 
given  out  by  fome,  who  attend  only  to  the  Urine 
without  regarding  the  other  Signs. 

a  The  Urine  of  Infants  is  always  like  Whey, 
fweet  and  inodorous  •,  but  it  becomes  gradually 
more  acrimonious  as  Age  advances,  'till  in  old 
People  it  is  extremely  acrid  and  very  fcetid ;  for 
in  thefe  the  Bladder  being  wrinkled,  and  hardly 

P  4  ever 


2  i6  Of  Signs  hy  the  Urine.  §.  ggi. 

ever  entirely  evacuated,  the  retained  Urine  be- 
comes acrimonious  by  itagnating. 

3  Thus  the  Urine  which  is  voided  by  a  healthy 
Ploughman  exercifed  with  L  bour,  though  it  de- 
notes Health  in  him,  yet  would  it  import  a  mpft 
malignant  and  fatal  DifeVfe,  if  it  was  to  be  voided 
by  a  delicate  and  weak  Girl  addicted  to  a  fedentary 
Life.  For  in  the  weaker  Sex  the  moft  healthy 
Urine  is  much  paler  or  lefs  inclined  to  a  red  Co- 
lour, lefs  foetid,  and  lefs  apt  to  froth  than  the 
Urine  of  Men. 

4  In  the  Summer-heats  the  Urine  is  made  much 
higher  coloured  by  every  body  than  in  Winter. 

5  Even  the  moft  fkilful  Phyfician  may  be  impo- 
fed  upon,  fo  as  to  think  the  Urine  prefages  ill  if 
the  Patient  fups  upon  Afpaiagus,  and  afterwards 
in  the  Night  takes  a  Bolus  of  Caflia  with  Rhubarb; 
for  by  this  means  the  Urine  will  be  rendered  black 
and  very  foetid,  fo  that  the  Phyfician  though  fkil- 
ful, being  ignorant  of  what  the  Patient  h  is  took, 
might  pronounce  that  the  Owner  of  the  Urine  mull 
in  a  little  time  perifh  by  a  Gangrene  of  the  inter- 
nal Parts,  w}ien  the  very  next  Day  the  Patient  be- 
ing very  well  will  deride  the  Phyfician.  Even 
Urine  of  almoft  any  Colour  may  be  difcharged, 
either  yellow,  green,  or  red,  only  by  taking  in- 
offenfive  and  fimple  medicines.  Turmeric  being 
taken  inwardly  tinges  the  Urine  as  in  a  Jaundice, 
and  Saffron  renders  the  Urine  like  that  of  aPerfon 
in  an  ardent  Fever,  &c.  By  thefe  Artifices  I  faw 
two  ProfefTors  of  this  Univerfity  impofed  upon, 
wjio  having  well  confidered  the  Urine,  without 
being  acquainted  with  what  the  Patient  had  taken, 
pronounced  their  Judgment  according  to  the  Rules 
of  Art. 

6  It  is  furprizing  that  the  moft  ignorant  Fellows 
jfcould  pretend  to  tell  every  thing  by  the  Urine, 

PI 


§•993-   Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  217 

of  which  ftamp  there  are  three  Profits  dwelling 
in  this  City  of  Leyden.  One  of  thefe  is  fo  ignorant 
and  ftupid  that  he  hardly  knows  his  own  Name, 
but  has  three  or  four  Formulae  or  Notes  containing 
Symptoms  common  to  almoft  all  Difeafes.  Thele 
he  dictates  in  every  Difeafe,  not  knowing  how  to 
write  ;  but  the  other  is  a  little  wifer  than  the  firfl, 
having  nine  fet  Forms  of  prognofticatine,  which 
are  always  fure  to  contain  fomething  of  Truth.— 
The  Urine  of  a  Perfon  who  is  about  to  die  of  an 
ardent  Fever,  being  voided  to  the  Quantity  of  three 
Pounds,  is  colourlefs,  hardly  froths,  and  perfectly 
refembles  hyfterical  Urine  but  it  would  be  an 
egregious  Error  to  pronounce  it  therefore  hyfteri- 
cal, when  it  was  made  by  a  Perfon  in  the  Agonies 
betwixt  Life  and  Death. 

§.  992.  In  examining  the  Urine  in  order  to 
form  a  Diagnofis  or  Prognofis  of  Difeafes,  or 
for  any  other  Ufe  in  Phyfic  we  are  to  confider 
its  Quantity,  Colour,  Smell,  Tafte,  Fluidity, 
and  the  Contents  lodged  in  it. 

§.  993.  The  Quantity  of  the  Urine  increa- 
fed  above  what  is  ufual,  denotes  all  or  fome  of 
the  following  Particulars.  1.  An  Abundance 
of  watery  Drink  taken.  2 .  A  particular  Laxity 
of  the  renal  Dudts  or  Tubes  which  feparate  the 
Urine.  3.  A  Diminution  of  the  Perfpiration, 
Sweat,  or  Spitting  \  4.  That  Diuretics  have 
been  taken.  5.  An  imperfeB  z  Mixture  of 
the  Blood,  whence  the  watery  Parts  eafily  re- 
cede from  the  reft  or,  6.  That  there  is  fome 
nervous  Diforder,  and  that  the  Patient  is  either 
hyfterical  or  hypochondriacal  \  &c. 

Hypochondriacal 


2i 8    Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.   §.  995. 

1  Hypochondriacal  People  are  perpetually  {pit- 
ting, and  if  the  Spitting  happens  to  be  fuppreffed, 
they  are  indifpofed,  and  their  Urine  becomes  wa- 
tery ;  but  when  the  Spitting  returns,  the  Urine  is 
diminifhed. 

a  Water  makes  up  almoft  nine  Parts  in  ten  of 
the  whole  Mafs  of  Blood  and  yet  is  it  fo  confined 
with  the  reft  of  the  Blood  in  a  healthy  Perfon, 
that  it  neither  runs  off  by  Sweat,  Urine,  or  other 
Evacuations  •,  but  when  by  Difeafe  it  leaves  the 
reft  of  the  Mafs  of  Blood,  great  Quantities  of 
Urine  are  difcharged  like  new  Whey,  of  which 
Appearance  is  the  Urine  of  hyfterical  Women  ; 
but  the  Confequences  of  thefe  profufe  Difcharges 
by  Urine  are  very  bad,  namely,  a  greater  Melan- 
choly, a  Confumption,  Drinefs,  perpetual  Thirft, 
and  a  Defect  of  Nutrition. 

§.  994.  Such  Urine  (§.993.)  therefore  pre- 
fages,  1 .  A  T'hicknefs 1  of  the  remaining  Hu- 
mours. 2.  An  Acrimony  of  them.  3.  Thirft. 
4.  Anxieties.  5.  Obftrudtions  and  their  Con- 
fequences 6.  A  Tabes  or  univerfal  Wafting 
from  a  Diabetes,  attended  with  Thirft,  Dri- 
nefs, and  inflammatory  Heat. 

1  For  the  more  fluid  Parts  of  the  Blood  being 
diflipated,  the  reft  muft  become  thicker  and  more 
faline  from  the  Lofs  of  the  diluting  watery  Parts. 

§.  995.  The  Quantity  of  Urine  made  being 
much  lefs  than  ufual,  denotes,  1.  Either  a 
fmall  Qnantity  of  Drink,  or  that  it  contains 
too  great  a  Quantity  of  inflammable  Spirit 
produced  by  Fermentation  \  2.  That  the  uri- 
niferous  Dudls  are  obftructed  or  contracted  by 

8  a  Spafm  -9 


§  997'  Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  219 
a  Spafm  \  or,  3.  That  fome  other  of  the  Se- 
cretions are  augmented* *  But  if  the  Difcharge  3 
of  the  Urine  be  wholly  intercepted,  it  denotes 
an  Ifchuria  and  its  various  Caufes  (§.  821.) 

1  All  Wines  are  lefs  diuretic  in  proportion  as  they 
abound  more  with  Spirit,  which  has  a  Tendency 
rather  to  the  Head  than  the  Kidneys  ;  but  acid 
and  oily  Wines  pafs  off  more  by  Urine.  They 
who  have  been  drinking  largely  make  no  Water 
that  Night,  but  are  disordered  with  an  internal 
Heat  from  the  Spirit  of  Wine  remaining  in  the 
VeiTels. 

2  A  Perfon  who  fweats,  or  is  afflicted  with  a 
Diarrhoea,  will  always  find  them  diminifhed  or  in- 
creafe  according  as  the  urinal  Difcharge  is  either 
profufe  or  fupprefTed. 

3  Every  Perfon  in  Health  makes  Urine  in  a 
fmall  Quantity,  fweats  but  little,  difcharges  few 
Fasces,  but  perfpires  a  great  deal.  But  in  acute 
Difcafes  if  the  Urine  is  fupprefTed  and  the  Skin 
feels  dry  it  is  a  fatal  Sign. 

§.  996.  Such  a  Difcharge  of  the  Urine  (§; 
995.)  portends  future  Repletions,  Heaviness, 
Stupidity,  Sleepinefs,  convulfive  Tremblings  -y 
and  efpecially  when  it  proceeds  from  the  fe- 
cond  Caufe,  it  denotes  that  the  Patient  will 
die  apoplectic  \ 

1  Thofe  who  are  killed  by  a  perfect  Ifchuria  or 
Supprefiion  of  Urine,  are  never  endangei'd  'till  the 
Diforder  extends  to  the  Head. 

§.  997.  The  Urine  which  is  thin  like  Wa- 
ter, limpid,  colourlefs,  infipid,  inodorous  \  and 

difcharged 


2  20   Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  §.997. 

difcharged  in  great  Quantities,  imports  1. 
Plenty  of  Water  or  watery  Drinks  taken  into 
the  Body.  2.  That  the  renal  Duds  are  much 
contra5ledx >  while  the  Humours  in  the  mean 
time  are  violently  agitated  by  too  fwift  a  Cir- 
culation. 3.  That  there  is  too  ft  rid:  a  Cohe^ 
fion  of  the  Oil,  Salt,  z\A  Earth  in  the  Sub- 
fiance  of  the  Urine,  a  Tenacity  of  the  Hu- 
mours, ana  a  Difficulty  of  intermixing  wa- 
tery Liquors  with  them.  4.  Violent  Paffions  of 
the  Mind,  hyfterical  or  hypochondriac  1  Fits, 
that  the  Perfon  looks  pale  or  fickly,  as  in  Vir- 
gins, or  that  the  Patient  has  been  lately  deli- 
vered ?.  5.  That  the  Vifcera  are  incapable  of 
concodting the  alimentary  Humours;  whence 
Crudities  4,  Phlegm,  and  Coldnefs  of  Habit. 

6.  Obftru&ions  of  the  Veffels  and  Vifcera. 

7.  But  in  acute  5  Pifeafes  it  denotes  a  Hin- 
drance of  the  Conco&ion  and  Crifis,  and  that 
thence  the  morbific  Matter  is  depofited  upon 
the  interior  Parts  of  the  Body. 

2  In  acute  Difeafes,  the  thick  Blood  refufes  to 
mix  with  Water,  which  it  repels,  and  if  in  this 
cafe  you  can  dilute  the  Blood,  you  cure  the  whole 
Difeafe.  This  I  have  frequently  declared  in  Con- 
futations, that  no  acute  Difeafe  would  be  fatal,  if 
we  had  a  Remedy,  by  which  we  could  make  the 
Blood  intimately  unite  with  Water,  which  how- 
ever plentifully  fupplied  to  the  Patient,  is  all  re- 
pelled, as  if  you  had  poured  it  upon  oiled  Paper 
or  Pitch  ;  for  the  Blood  in  thefe  acute  Difeafes 
becomes  fo  tenacious,  that  the  Water  is  no  foQner 
drank  than  it  efcapes,  either  by  Urine,  or  fome 
other  Emunctory.  Ip  the  worftKind  of  the  Small- 
pox* 


§.  99  8*   Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  221 

pox,  I  have,  in  a  manner,  overwhelmed  the  Pa- 
tient in  thin  Drinks  which  they  have  taken  covet- 
ouily  but  the  Water  has  immediately  come  away 
by  Urine,  infipid,  inodorous,  and  pellucid  ;  nor 
have  I  been  able  to  procure  a  flame-colour'd  Urine, 
acrid  and  ftrong  fmelling,  under  fuch  a  Courfe 
of  Drinking. 

x  The  Urine  almoft  conftantly  appears  thus  in 
convulfive  Diforders  ;  for  the  renal  Duels  or  Vef- 
lels  being  likewifeconftringed  or  contracted  fmaller 
by  the  Spafm,  and  at  the  fame  time  the  Humours 
being  urged  on  more  powerfully,  therefore  much 
Urine  is  indeed  made,  but  very  thin  from  the  Stric- 
ture of  the  VefTels  and  from  the  Concurrence 
of  thefe  Caufes  is  this  kind  of  Urine  difcharged. 

3  When  the  Lochia  are  fupprefled,  there  is  a 
watery  Inundation  of  Urine  no  lefs  clear,  in  Con- 
fequence  of  which  Convulfions  muft  necefiarily 
follow  in  a  little  Time. 

4  The  Blood  confifts  of  Particles  differing  among 
themfelves,  but  fo  intermixed  together,  that  they 
cohere  with  a  certain  Force  :  Now  when  thefe  Par- 
ticles are  not  accurately  mixed,  the  mere  fluid  of 
them  depart  from  the  reft,  whence  the  more  earthy 
and  immoveable  Parts  are  left  to  themfelves,  to  the 
Deftruction  of  Health. 

5  Hippocrates  tells  us,  it  is  a  fatal  Sign,  when 
the  Urine  being  acrimonious,  or  fcalding,  and 
flame- coloured,  changes  to  be  limpid,  and  with- 
out Smell,  for  fuch  Patients  being  difordered  in 
the  Brain,  are  foon  taken  off  by  Death. 

§.998.  This  kind  of  Urine  (§.997.)  im- 
ports almoft  the  fame  with  that  of  (§.994.) ; 
but  in  acute  and  inflammatory  Difeafes,  it 
foretells  the  very  worft  Coudition  of  the  Vif- 

cera, 
2 


222    Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  §.  999. 

cera,  Delirium,  Phrenitis,  Convulfions,  and 
Death,  from  a  Gangrene  produced  by  the  re- 
tained Acrimony. 

§.  999.  Red  Urine  without 1  a  Sediment  in 
acute  Difeafes,  indicates,  1 .  a  violent  Motion 
and  Attrition  1  betwixt  the  conftituent  Parts 
of  the  Humours,  and  betwixt  the  Humours 
and  Vejfeh  3  ;  2.  that  there  is  an  intimate 
Mixture  and  Cohefion,  or  Tenacity  of  the 
oily,  faline,  earthy,  and  watery  Parts  of  the 
Humours  5  and  therefore,  3.  that  there 
is  a  great  Degree  of  Crudity  in  the  morbific 
Matter  ;  4.  that  the  Difeafe  will  be  of  long 
Continuance  5  and  laftly,  5.  that  it  will  be 
attended  with  great  Danger. 

*  For  when  the  Urine  depofits  a  Sediment,  it  is 
a  Sign  of  Concoction. 

z  The  higher- colour'd  the  Urine  appears  above 
what  is  ufual  in  Health,  fo  much  the  more  in- 
creafed  is  the  Attrition  in  the  Mafs  of  Humours 
above  the  convenient  healthy  Degree  ;  for  the  Oil 
only  communicates  Colour,  Smell,  and  Tafte  to  the 
Urine,  as  I  havedemonftrated  before  in  Chemiftry: 
And  the  Earth  freed  from  the  Oil  appears  ex  reme- 
ly  white,  the  Salt  is  alfo  white,  and  the  Water 
perfectly  clean  and  limpid.  But  this  Oil  cannot 
abound  more  in  the  Urine,  but  by  being  firft  dif- 
folved  with  an  increafed  Attrition,  or  more  rapid 
Circulation  ;  and  then  being  changed  by  the  Heat 
from  a  white  Colour,  and  fweet  Tafte,  to  be  yel- 
low, black,  and  bitter.  Thus  even  Milk  which 
is  fo  extremely  white,  by  burning  becomes  firft 
yellow,  then  black  and  bitter. 

When 


§.  iooo.  Of  Signs  hy  the  Urine.  223 

2  When  the  Urine  becomes  higher-colour'd  from 
an  internal  Caufe,  there  is  always  either  a  flight 
Fever  or  Inflammation  in  the  Habit  ;  nor  is  any 
Perfon  ever  afflicled  even  with  a  flight  Fever,  but 
it  fhews  itfelf  apparently  in  the  Urine. 

§.  1000.  But  this  red-colour'd  Urine  (§.999.) 
prefages,  1.  a  gangrenous  Deflruftion  of  the 
fmalleft  1  Vefiels,  more  efpecially  in  the  Brain 
and  Cerebellum,  and  from  thence  Death  ;  2. 
that  the  Concodtion  of  the  morbific  Matter 
will  be  difficult;  and,  3.  that  the  Crifis  will 
be  flow  and  very  doubtful.  But  it  is  evident, 
that  all  thefe  Particulars  (§.  999.  and  1000.) 
muft  be  worfe,  as  the  Urine  is  more  intenfely 
red,  and  at  the  fame  time  without  any  Sedi- 
ment  \ 

■  When  a  mild  Humour  flows  with  a  moderate 
Impetus,  the  Shock  is  eafily  fuftained  by  the  Vef- 
fels  ;  but  when  the  fame  Liquor  is  render'd  more 
acrimonious,  and  at  the  fame  time  moved  forward 
with  a  greater  Violence,  it  will  not  be  confined  in 
the  larger  VefTels,  but  will  pafs  off"  laterally  into 
the  fmaller,  where  increafing  the  Plentitude,  both 
the  Quantity  and  Velocity  of  the  Humours  fo 
forced  off  laterally,  will  be  again  increafed.  But 
the  fmalleft  VelTels  of  the  Body  are  in  the  Brain 
and  Lungs,  and  therefore  thefe  Parts  above  ali 
others,  will  be  more  difordered  by  fuch  acrid  and 
impetuoufly  moving  Humours. 

*  A  flame-colour'd  Urine  without  depofiting  any 
Sediment,  or  without  a  pale  Cloud,  denotes  that 
the  Patient  will  hardly  efcape. 


§.  1001. 


224  Qf  Signs  hy  the  Urine.  §.  1002* 

§.1001.  Hence  alfo  a  flame-colour  dl  Urine 
which  is  thin,  and  without  any  Sediment,  de- 
notes the  fame  Particulars,  but  more  violent ; 
and  confequently  it  has  the  fame  Prefage,  but 
much  more  dangerous. 

4  This  kind  of  Urine  prefages  every  thing  the 
fame  as  before,  only  more  violent.  Thus  Milk, 
Butter,  Cream,  and  Oil,  by  burning,  turn  yel- 
low, then  red,  laftly,  black,  and  are  then  bitter 
and  acrid.  The  like  Changes  happen  to  the  oily 
Parts  of  our  Humours  from  the  febrile  Heat. 

§.  1002.  Red  Urine  with  a  plentiful  heavy 
Sediment  like  red  Bole  or  Brickduft  ground 
fine,  denotes,  1.  that  a  violent  Motion  and 
Attrition  of  the  Humours  has  preceded  1  $ 
2.  that  the  VefTels  are  now  relaxed  5  3.  that 
the  Blood  is  acrid,  faiine,  and  of  a  broken 
Texture,  wnfit  for  Nutrition  -y  4*  it  denotes 
inter ' mi tti?ig  Fevers  %  which  go  off  with  a  vio- 
lent Paroxyfm  5.  upon  the  Northern  Coafts 
it  denotes  the  Scurvy. 

J  Such  Urine  is  opake  immediately  after  it  is 
made,  but  after  it  has  flood  a  while,  the  upper 
Part  appears  very  red,  and  below  ic  depofits  a 
thick  Sediment. 

2  Before  the  Fit  or  Paroxyfm  of  Intermittent^ 
the  Urine  is  never  obferved  to  have  this  Appear- 
ance. When  the  Urine  is  pellucid  above,  red  be- 
low, and  fends  a  fat  Pellicle  or  Skin  to  the  Sides, 
with  a  furfuraceous  Mafs  towards  the  Bottom,  one 
may  then  boldly  pronounce,  that  the  Patient  is 

either 


1005.  Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  225 

cither  fcorbutic,  or  affli&ed  with  an  intermitting 
Fever.  But  even  the  Scurvy  is,  in  reality,  a  con- 
tinual Fever,  though  flight,  and  the  Pulfe  of  fcor* 
butic  People  is  always  inflammatory. 

§.  1003.  Such  Urine  therefore  prefages,  1. 
a  long  Continuance  of  the  Difeafe  ;  2.  an  At- 
trition, Weaknefs,  and  Deftrudtion  of  the 
fmall  VelTels  3  3.  colliquative  Sweats,  Urines, 
6pittings,  or  Diarrhasas  ;  4.  an  Atrophy  \  or 
univerfal  Wafting  for  want  of  Nourifhrnent  $ 
and,  5.  Dropiies  of  all  Kinds. 

1  The  Blood  cannot  nourim  when  it  depofits 
this  Kind  of  Urine;  which  may  be  relied  upon  as 
a  fure  Sign  ;  fince  thefe  Difeafes  are  never  without 
this  Kind  of  Urine,  and  as  this  Urine  is  never 
made  without  fuch  Difeafes. 

§:  1004.  If  fuch  Urine  (§.  1002.)  has  in  it 
a  furfur  aceous  1  or  fcaly  Sediment,  it  denotes 
every  thing  the  fame,  but  in  a  worfe  De«* 
gree. 

1  For  this  Appearance  of  a  fcaly  Sediment,  de* 
monftrates  a  more  violent  Attrition, 

§.  1005.  But  if  the  Urine  appears  of  a 
faffron-colour  \  and  ftains  Paper,  Linen,  or 
the  Sides  of  the  Glafs  of  the  fame  Hue,  depo* 
fiting  likewife  a  Sediment  like  that  before* 
mentioned  (  §.  1002.  1004.  )  it  denotes  a 
Jaundice,  together  with  all  its  Symptoms  in 
the  Skin,  Bowels,  Hypochondria,  and  whole 
Body  -9  and  hence  the  Prefages  of  this  Urine 

appear 


226  Of  Signs  hy  the  Urine.  §.  1007 

appear  plainly  from  the  Hiftory  of  this  Dif- 
eafe. 

1  This  Kind  of  Urine  is  eafily  diftinguifhed  3 
for  it  refcmbles  Oil  of  a  greenifh,  yellow  Colour, 
and  always  denotes  a  Jaundice  ;  and  upon  the 
Sight  of  fuch  Urine,  one  may  pronounce  the  Pa- 
tient ro  be  troubled  with  Anxieties  and  Pains 
about  the  Prscordia,  afcerwhicha  yellow  Colour 
diffuies  itlcJf  throughout  the  whole  Body. 

§.  1006.  Urine  of  a  green  Colour  with  a 
thick  Sediment,  denotes,  1 .  an  atrabiliary  Ha- 
bit ;  2.  that  the  atrabiliary  Matter  now  begins 
to  be  diffolved  and  difcharged,  and  that  there- 
fore, 3.  there  muft.  be  Anxieties  about  the 
Prscordia,  a  Difturbance  in  the  Bowels,with 
iliacal  ancolicky  Pains,  &c. 

§.  1007.  Such  Urine  therefore  denotes  a 
Dijfohiticn  \  and  Tranflation  of  the  atrabilia- 
ry Matter  into  the  Blood  and  Vifcera ;  from 
whence  follow  an  infinite  Number  of  Difor- 
ders,  and  thofe  often  acute  ones,  as  may  be 
underftood  from  confulting  the  Hiftory  of 
the  Atrabilis  thus  difpofed.  From  hence  we 
may  know  what  to  think  of  black  2  Urine, 
as  being  of  the  fame,  or  a  worfe  Nature, 
(§.738.V89.) 

1  In  this  Cafe,  one  ought  to  regard  to  which 
Part  the  atrabiliary  Matter  tends,  though  it  feldom 
fixes  ;  but  if  it  fettles  upon  the  Stomach,  it  will 
caufe  Sicknefs  and  Vomiting  ;  if  upon  the  Inte- 
ftines,  Gripes  and  aDiarrhaea  are  to  be  expected; 

fometimes 


§.  1008.  Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  227 

fometimes  it  denotes  a  Gangrene  of  the  Kidneys. 
But  in  either  Cafe,  the  Cauic  commonly  proves 
fatal. 

*  Such  bJack-colour'd  Urine  is  commonly  dis- 
charged in  the  high  .ft  or  fourth  Degree  of  the 
atrabiliary  Diforder  ^  and  fometimes  it  is  obferved 
in  melancholy  People  after  violent  Paflions  of  the 
Mind.  The  Ufe  of  Caflia  fiftularis  Jiftewife  ren- 
ders the  Urine  of  this  Colour. 

§.  ico8.  The  Urine  which  has  Blood\ 
Matter,  Caruncles,  Filaments,  Hairs, or  Strings 
like  little  Eels,  grumous  Concretions,  Sand, 
Fragments  of  a  Stone,  and  Mucus  in  the  Bot- 
tom, denotes  Diiorders  of  the  Kidneys,  Ure- 
ters, Bladder,  TejHcles  %  feminal  Vejicles  % 
Ghndulx  fir  ofiatc?  4  and  Cowperianse,  and  of 
the  Urethra  5 . 

1  The  Number  of  thefe  Matters  in  the  Urine 
have  much  increafed  fmce  the  Times  of  Hippo* 
crates,  who  has  pronounced,  that  thefe  come  only 
from  the  Kidneys  or  Gall-bladder  ;  but  now  the 
Face  of  Things  is  changed  by  the  Acceffion  of  a 
new  or  modern  Difeaie,  the  Lues  Venerea. 

4  When  the  Tefticles  contain  any  corrupt  Mat- 
ter it  is  propelled  by  the  Force  of  the  cremafter 
Mufcles  as  yet  uninjured,  to  the  Epididymis,Vas 
deferens,  feminal  Veficles  and  Urethra ;  for  if  the 
Semen  takes  this  Courfe,  why  may  not  alfo  the 
thin  difeafed  Ichor  of  a  corrupted  Tefticle  pafs 
the  fame  Way  ?  This  Difeafe  is  in  our  Days  fome- 
times obferved,  when  after  the  mod  dreadful  Fains, 
a  corrupted  Semen  is  difcharged  through  the  ex- 
coriated Farts  of  the  Urethra ;  but  the  Cafe  is 
rare* 

Thia 


228  Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  §.  ioiot 

3  This  is  the  laft  and  worft  Species  of  the  Go- 
norrhaea,which  fpreads  and  burrows  into  the  Anus,' 
and  diftils  its  virulent  Humour  into  the  excoriated 
Urethra  •,  but  this  Cafe  is  alfo  not  very  common, 
All  thefe  Particulars  ought  to  be  regarded,  when 
one  enquires  after  the  Caufe  of  the  prefent  Dif* 
eafe, 

4  This  Diforder  is  frequent,  and  was  not  un- 
known to  Galen. 

5  Thefe  Glands  of  Cowper  and  Morgogniy  are 
the  firft  and  rripft  frequent  Seat  of  the  Gonorrhea, 
Thus  for  Example/ if  after  continual  obtufe  Pains 
in  the  Loins,  or  after  riding  onHorfeback,bloody 
Urine  is  difcharged,  and  afterwards  a  purulent 
Matter,  there  being  no  Sign  of  any  Diforder  in 
the  Bladder,  we  may  be  certain  that  it  lies  in  the 
Kidneys  but  when  a  purulent  Matter  flows  out 
of  the  Urethra  without  thofe  Signs,  or  together 
with  a  feminal  Difcharge,  it  is  commonly  a  viru- 
lent Gonorrhoea, 

§.  1009.  But  the  particular  Nature  of  the 
Diforder  denoted  by  the  foremen tioned  Sym^ 
toms,  and  alio  the  particular  Part  affected, 
ought  to  be  determined  from  the  other  con- 
curring Signs,  to  be  obferved  at  the  fame 
time  in  the  Diforder^  where  fuxh  Urine  is 
difcharged, 

§,  10 10.  The  Urine  which  appears  fat, 
commonly  contains  fmall  Particles  of  Sand|3 
adhering  together  by  a  kind  of  vifcid  Matter, 
fo  as  to  form  on.  its  Surface,  a  Skin  or  Mem* 
brans,  in  Appearance  oily  5  and  fuch  an  Ap* 
pearance  denotes  an  abundance  of  earthy, ' 


§.  tot  1 4  Of  Signs  hy  the  Urine.  229 

-  fluggifb,  and  faline  Parts  of  the  Blood, whence 
it  prelages  the  Scurvy  the  Gravely  and  the 
like. 

t  When  the  Urine  having  nVod  ftill  fome  time 
in  the  Pot,  has  a  Sort  of  oily  Skin  floating  on  it* 
like  a  Spider's  Web,  which  adheres  to  the  Sides 
of  the  G!afs,when  it  is  poured  out  by  Inclination* 
the  Urine  then  abounds  with  invifible  Calculi,  in- 
termixed with  a  vifcous  or  tenacious  Oil,  as  I  have 
often  feen  by  the  Microfcope  ;  and  this  happens 
in  the  fame  Manner  as  Salts,  being  diffolved  in 
hot  Water,  -and  evaporated  or  expofed  to  the 
Cold,  fhoot  upon  the  Surface,  and  form  firft  a 
thin  Pellicle  or  Skin,  and  afterwards  faline  Cry- 
dais*  When  the  Urine  abounds  with  fuch  a 
Matter,  it  forms  a  Stone  in  a  little  time,  by 
growing  round  the  Surface  of  any  folid  Particle 
which  is  not  of  an  oily  or  mucilaginous  Na- 
ture. 

§*.  to  1  i.  But  the  Urine  which  is  truly jfa/  ■ 
or  oily,  though  it  feldom  happens,  does  ne- 
verthelefs  denote  when  it  appears  1 ;  i.  that 
the  Veffels  are  wore  away  by  a  violent  Mo- 
tion and  Attrition,  are  dhToIved  and  mixed 
with  the  Blood,  and  difcharged  together  with 
the  Fat  in  the  Urine;  2.  that  there  is  an 
Acrimony  in  the  Humours,  which  therefore 
threatens  an  Atrophy,  or  a  pulmonary  Cou- 
fumption. 

1  This  is  only  obferved  by  Ruyfch>  and  the 
Dealers  in  Cattle  before  him,  who  are  ufed  to 
fay,  whenever  a  fat  Horfe  is  fuddenly  killed  by 
too  violent.  Exercife  or  hard  riding,  u  that  his 

3  "  Fat 


230  Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  §♦  10  r  2. 

"  Fat  is  melted  in  his  Body,"  which  is  a  very 
true  Phrafe  :  For  Ruyfch  always  found  the  Fat 
difTolved  and  extravafated  into  the  Cavity  of  the 
Abdomen,  to  the  Quantity  of  feveral  Founds. 
Something  of  the  like  kind  I  have  alfo  obfervtd, 
after  an  oily  Clyfter  has  been  a  longtime  retained. 
This  oily  Fat  may  be  again  abforbed  entirely  by 
the  Veins,  and  difcharged  by  the  renal  Arteries, 
together  with  the  Urine.  I  have  myfelf  obferved 
Urine  in  which  there  have  been  oily  Threads 
attracting  each  other,  like  as  one  may  obferve 
in  \\  ater  mixed  with  Alcohol,  before  they  are 
intimately  blended. 

2  For  this  is  commonly  fabulous.  I  have  de- 
fignedly  given  a  Man  Oil  to  drink,  but  yet  I  could 
not  find  that  any  of  it  pafTed  the  Kidneys  together 
with  the  Urine  ;  for  if  the  Kidneys  are  capable  of 
tranfmitting  Oih  they  muff.  necefTarily  difcharge 
the  Chyle  alfo  together  with  the  Urine,  fince  that 
is  much  more  pervious  than  Oil. 

§.  10 1 2.  The  Urine  which  upon  fhaking 
retains  1  a  lafting  Froth,  denotes  that  the  oily 
and  faline  Farts  of  the  Humours  are  diffolved 
and  combined  into  a  lixivial  faponaceous  Na- 
ture ;  and  that  therefore  i.  there  is  a  great 
Tenacity  from  fuch  a  clofe  Mixture  ;  2.  that 
the  Concoction  andCrifis  will  be  difficult;  or 
laftly,  3.  that  the  Patient  will  be  troubled 
with  pulmonic  Diforders  or  catarrhous  Di- 
ftempers  in  the  Head. 

»  I  never  knew  any  Prefage  fail  from  this  Ap- 
pearance. When  the  Urine  retains  a  Froth  like 
that  made  by  diflolving  Soap  in  Water,  it  is  a 
Sign  that  the  oily  and  faline  Parts  as  yet  tenaci- 

oufly 


§.  1 014.  Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  231  , 

oufly  adhere  together  ;  but  when  on  the  feventh 
Day  upon  fhaking  the  Urine,  the  Froth  which 
thence  arifes  fpontaneoufly  diiappears  immediate- 
ly after,  you  may  be  certain  that  the  Patient  is 
out  of  Danger. 

§.  1 013.  Urine  which  is  fcetid  upon  being 
firft  made,  denotes  an  Attenuation  of  the 
faline  and  oily  Parts  of  the  Humours,  dif- 
folved  and  almoft  putrefied  ;  and  therefore  it 
indicates  great  Danger  and  Difficulty  of  Cure, 
both  in  chronical  and  in  acute  Difeafes. 

§.  1014.  The  Urine  which  appears  co- 
loured in  Difeafes  without  any  faline  Tafte 
declares  a  Weaknefs  of  the  vital  Powers,  and 
1  that  Death  is  at  hand. 

■  At  Amfierdam  there  lived  one  by  predicting 
from  the  Urine,  who  never  foretold  any  Event 
but  Death  or  Recovery.  He  carefully  enquired 
whether  the  Urine  had  been  long  retained,  and 
dilchargc  d  in  the  Morning  falling  j  and  being  cer- 
tified of  this,  he  would  turn  himfelf  to  a  Corner 
and  tafte  the  Urine,  from  whence  fo  long  as  it  left 
any  Imprefiion  upon  the  Tongue,  he  pronounced 
that  the  Hour  of  Death  was  not  yet  at  hand  ;  but 
fo  foon  as  he  found  it  infipid  he  prefaged  inftant 
Death  ;  and  by  this  Artifice  only  procure^  to 
himfelf  Riches.  This  is  altogether  a  juft  Sign, 
fince  the  vital  Powers  always  form  a  fait  Urine  ; 
from  whatever  Aliments  are  taken,  and  even  from 
Milk  itfelf,  as  I  have  experienced  in  myfelT-,  but 
if  now  there  is  no  Salt  to  be  found  in  the  Urine, 
and.  the  Water  paiTes  off  by  the  Urine,  almoft 

Q^4  without 


232  Of  Signs  hy  the  Urine*  §.  iol6 

without  Change,  it:  is  a  Sign  that  none  of  the  vita] 
Pojvers  remain. 

§.  1015.  The  Urine  which  is  pale,  thin, 
Snd  depofits  a  mucous,  tough  Sediment,  hav- 
ing a  faline  putrid  Smell,  almoft  conftantty 
denotes  the  Stone  in  the  Bladder. 

§.  10 1 6.  But  in  acute  Fevers  more  efpe- 
cially  the  Urine  ought  to  be  confulted,  as  af- 
fording a  pretty  fure  Prefage  3  for  1.  the  Urine 
which  has  a  light,  fmooth,  and  unequal  Se- 
diment, foon  fubfiding  in  the  Shape  of  a  Top 
or  Cone\  having  hardly  any  Smell  through- 
out the  whole  Courfe  of  the  Difeafe  to  the 
Crifis,  is  one  of  the  beft  Signs  and  Prefages  5 
2.  much  whiteUrine  which  is  hot  or  fcalding* 
in  the  Difcharge,  and  affords  a  great  Quantity 
of  white  Sediment  about  the  critical  time, 
cures  the  Patient,  and  prevents  Abfceffes  •  3* 
the  Urine  which  is  made  plentifully  on  the 
indicating  critical  Day  \   with  a  copious, 
White,  or  reddiuh  Sediment  relieving  the  Pa- 
tient, denotes  a  Cure  will  be  made  by  a  per- 
fect Crifis  on  the  critical  Day  ;  4.  the  Urine 
Which  is  thin  and  reddijlo 4  without  any  Sedi- 
ment, or  white  \  thin  and  waterv,  or  of  a 
golden  Colour,  thin,  and  continually  without 
any  turbid  Appearance,  as  alfo  that  which 
continually  remains  turbid  without  fubfiding, 
denotes,  that  in  very  acute  Difeafes  the  Con- 
coction has  been  injured,  that  the  Crudity  of 
the  Morbiiic  Matter  is  great,  that  the  Crifis 
%  will 


I  to!  6.  Of  Signs  by  the  Urine.  233 

Vrill  be  difficult,  the  Diieafe  of  long  ftanding, 
and  Life  in  great  Danger  3  but  in  the  moft 
acute  inflammatory  Diftempers,  it  portends 
certain  Death  1  and  laftly,  in  moderately  acute 
Difeafes,  it  denotes  them  to  be  long  and  trou- 
blefome,  and  that  fome  Abfcefs  or  Tranfla- 
tion  of  the  Difeafe,  will  be  made  on  fome 
Part  or  other. 

1  Namely,  that  which  forms  a  Cone  rifing  up 
in  the  Urine  with  its  Bafis  above.  It  is  a  Sign 
that  the  Sediment  is  light*  may  be  fuftained  in 
Water,  and  is  therefore  concocted  ;  whence  it  is 
one  of  the  bed  Signs  in  acute  Difeafes  which  fel- 
dom  fails.  But  when  the  Sediment  is  fiat  or  low* 
it  appears  to  be  too  ponderous,  and  denotes  than 
the  Concoction  will  be  difficult. 

*  So  long  as  the  thick  and  obftrufting  morbific 
Matter  finds  a  ready  PafTage  through  the  lax  Vef- 
fcls  of  the  Kidneys,  it  will  not  feek  a  PafTage  any 
other  Way  which  is  more  refitted  •,  and  will  not 
therefore  occafion  any  Abfcefs.  When  this  hap* 
pens  on  the  critical  Day,  it  terminates  almoft  every 
kind  of  inflammatory  Difeafe  ;  or  even  when  ari 
Abfcefs  has  already  begun  to  be  formed,  one  may 
hope  to  difcharge  the  Matter  this  way. 

1  This  very  ufeful  Doctrine,  owes  its  Invention 
to  Hippocrates^  fmce  whofe  time  it  has  lain  uncul- 
tivated by  the  fucceeding  Phyficians,  even  though 
it  tends  to  give  the  Phyikians  the  Reputation  of  a 
Deity.  When  the  Diieafe  is  more  acute,  that  b+ 
coming  to  a  Crifis  in  five  Days,  then  the  third 
Day  is  an  Index  to  the  fifth ;  and  if  the  Urine 
appears  well  on  the  third  Day,  on  the  fifth  the 
Diieafe  will  be  removed  ;  but  in  Difeafes  which 
extend  their  Courfe  to  the  ninth  Day,  the  third  is 

ftft 


234  Of  Signs  hy  the  Urine.  §.  1017.- 

an  Index  to  t  2  feventh  5  and  rn  common  acute 
Fevers,  the  feventh  Day  is  an  Index  to  the  four- 
teenth ;  for  in  thefe  the  Urine  having  continued 
limpid  for  feven  Cays,  if  it  depofits  a  Sediment 
on  the  eighth,  the  Patient  will  be  well  on  the 
fourteenth.  For  when  the  Matter  appears  con- 
ceded on  the  third,  fifth,  or  feventh  Day  before 
the  Might  of  the  Difeafe,  there  is  reafon  to  hope 
that  the  Matter  will  be  difcharged  by  a  true  Crifis 
on  the  critical  Day  after  the  Height,  and  that  the 
Patient  will  recover  a  due  State  or  Health.  Nor 
does  thePrefage  ever  fail,  when  the  Urine  ap- 
pears thus  on  the  feventh  Day,  that  the  Patient 
will  be  recovered  on  the  fourteenth  ;  which  may 
be  therefore  promifed  without  any  Danger  or 
Hefitation. 

4  Namely,  that  which  is  watery  and  white,  in 
which  there  appears  fomething  of  a  pellucid  red, 
as  in  the  Agate  or  Toad-Stone,  and  fome  Sp-  ^:es 
of  t  e  Cornelian  :  for  that  is  very  bad  Urine,  and 
much  worfe  than  the  Flame-coloured. 

5  The  milky  Urine  which  depofits  no  Sediment 
Is  pernicious,  and  fhews  that  no  Crifis  is  near,  and 
that  none  of  the  morbific  Matter  is  drpofitcd  from 
the  Blood, 

§.1017.  The  Urine  therefore  truly  declares 
to  us,  1.  the  Nature  or  Difpofition,  and  Ve^ 
locity  of  the  Blood;  2.  the  Symptoms  and 
Stage  of  the  Difeafe  and  ConcocYion  :  3.  the 
State  of  Secretion  and  Crifis  ;  4.  Diforders  of 
the  Kidneys,  Ureters,  Bladder,  and  in  fome 
Meafure  of  the  'Je/licks  ',  Vafa  deferentia, 
feminal  Veficles,  the  proftate  and  Cc<wper$ 
Glands,  and  of  the  Urethra  itfelf ;    c.  fome 

Diforders 


§.1017.  Of  Signs  of  the  Urine.  235 

Diforders  arifing  in  the  Bile.  But  for  the  refb 
If  only  guefled  at  by  the  Urine  alone,  they 
muft  be  very  uncertain  1  and  almoft  ridicu- 
lous. 

1  I  have  often  obferved  myfelf,  and  have  inti- 
mated to  you,  that  the  Vas  deferens  may  be  com- 
preffed  by  an  Inflammation  feated  about  thefeminal 
Veficles,  ib  as  to  intercept  the  Courfe  of  the  Se- 
men, which  ftagnating  from  this  Caufe,  will  urge 
and  tumefy  the  Tefticle  \  which  is  ib  frequently 
fvvelled  from  hence,  that  among  an  hundred  Pa- 
tients, ninety-nine  are  afflicted  from  this  Caufe. 
But  thefe  Patients  are  hardly  to  be  cured,  but  by 
plentiful  Bleeding,  with  antiphlogiltic  Remedies  ; 
whereas  one  ignorant  of  this,  who  fhould  fall  into 
the  Ufe  of  Fomentations,  would  deitroy  the  Te- 
fticle,  and  oblige  it  to  fuppurate. 

1  Nothing  more  than  what  has  been  mentioned, 
can  be  expected  to  be  known  from  the  Urine;  and 
it  is  advifeable  for  the  Phyfician  to  intimate,when 
the  common  People  are  defirous  for  him  to  give 
his  Opinion  on  the  Urine,  that  he  knows  enough 
of  the  Difeafe  from  the  other  Signs,  and  that  the 
Urine  is  not  necefiary  ;  and  above  all,  he  muft 
avoid  prefjging  any  thing  more  from  it,  than 
what  relates  to  the  Difeafe.  For  certain  it  is,  that 
no  mortal  can  tell  by  the  Urine,  whether  it  c  me 
from  a  Man  or  a  Woman,  except  perhaps  fome  of 
the  Animalcules  warned  off  by  the  Urine  after  a 
feminal  Flux,  mould  by  the  Help  of  a  Microfeope 
difcover  it  to  belong  to  a  Male  *,  much  lefs  can 
any  one  determine,  whether  the  Perfon  to  whom 
the  Urine  belonged,  was  a  Virgin,  a  married 
Woman,  or  with  Child  ;  all  which  Pretentions 
defervc  only  to  be  laughed  at.  I  remember  two, 
ProfefTors  many  Years  ago  in  this  City  of  Lcyden% 

whs 


236  Of  Health.       §.  1  oi  8* 

who  were  egregioully  deceived  in  their  Uromancy* 
When  according  to  the  Rules  of  their  Art,  they 
denied  a  certain  noble  Lady  was  with  Child,  'till 
the  Birth  of  the  Infant  filenced  the  Prophets.  I 
have  known  the  principal  Urine  Judgers  in  this 
Republic,  to  have  been  guilty  of  fuch  egregious 
and  glaring  Errors,  that  if  they  had  the  leaft 
Shame  or  Merits  they  would  have  never  after  ap- 
peared in  that  Character.  For  more  upon  this 
Subject,  you  may  confult  Hippocrates^  Durctus  and 
Profper  AlpinuS)  who  are  almoft  the  only  Writers 
upon  Urine  in  the  medicinal  Way. 


Hugeieine    of  Prophylaxis: 
The  Prefervation  of  Healthy  or 
Prevention  of  Difeafes. 

§.  1018.  rp  HERE  are  three  Rewards 
which  crown  this  fourth  Part 
of  Medicine  which  regards  Health  ;  namely, 
the  Prefervation  of  Health  when  prefent,  and 
the  Prevention  of  Difeafes  5  the  Seeds  of 
which  lurk  concealed'  in  the  Habit,  and  are 
very  apt  to  break  out  5  and  laftly,  the  protract- 
ing Life z  to  a  good  old  Age.  [Vid,  §4  36*)' 

1  As  a  Plethora  which  is  not  yet  a  Difeafe,  but 
by  a  flight  Caufe  may  be  excited  into  Difeafe. 

2  The  incomparable  Lord  Bacon  has  obferved^ 
that  in  his  time  Phyficians  had  neglected  this  part 
of  Phyfic  which  promotes  Longevity,   and  was 

himfelf 


§.  1020.       Of  Health,  237 

himfelf  the  firft  who  broke  the  Ice  to  make  way 
for  this  Difcipline. 

§.  1019.  As  Health  is  an  Aptitude  in  the 
Body  to  the  regular  Performance  of  its  leveral 
Actions,  and  as  this  confifts  in  a  determined 
Difpofition  to  Motion  in  the  feveral  folid  and 
fluid  Parts,  it  follows,  that  even  Health  it- 
felf, though  once  perfect,  will  by  its  Nature 
and  Actions  wear  away  1  the  Solids,  confume 
the  Fluids,  and  corrupt  both,  fo  as  to  be  de^ 
ftructive  to  itfelf. 

'  And  this  Wafte  will  be  the  more  fpeedy  or 
confiderable  in  Proportion,  as  Health  or  Life  is 
better  and  ftronger  •,  for  fo  much  the  more  in  Pro- 
portion will  the  Body  be  wore  out,  fince  Health 
is  a  mod  active  State  of  all  the  Parts,  and  confifts 
in  a  Poflibility  of  exercifing  every  Function  :  hence 
there  will  be  an  Attrition  of  all  the  Humours 
againft  every  Series  of  the  VefTels,  againft  the 
Humours,  and  of  the  Parts  of  the  Humour 
.againft  each  other ;  from  which  Attrition  muft 
follow  a  DifTolution  and  Deftruction  of  all  the 
Parts  of  the  Body,  both  fluid  and  folid.  A  cha- 
chectical  Perfon  will  eafily  faft  three  Days,  as  is 
commonly  known,  People  being  ufed  to  fay  in 
this  Cafe,  that  the  Difeafe  noyrifhes  itfelf ;  but  3. 
healthy  ftrong  Man,  in  whom  the  Juices  have 
a  brifk  Ciculation,  cannot  faft  24  Hours  without 
being  faint. 

§.  1020.  Health  therefore  is  preferved  by 
continually  reftoring  the  fame  Quantity  1  and 
Quality  to  all  the  Parts  of  the  Body,  which 

they 


238  Of  Health.        §.  102 1; 

they  had  before  the  laft  mentioned  Deftruc- 
tion,  (§.  1019.)  as  well  in  the  folid  as  fluid 

Parts.  * 

1  If  a  Perfon  was  to  feed  upon  Blood  itfelf,  it 
would  not  be  immediately  fit  for  Nourishment, 
but  it  muft  be  firft  changed  and  reduced  to  another 
Form  in  the  Stomach  and  other  Paflages ;  and  the  v 
fame  is  alio  to  be  underftood  of  Eggs,  if  they  are 
ufed  as  Food :  whence  follows,  that  the  loft 
folid  and  fluid  Parts  of  the  Body  are  to  be  re- 
ftored  indeed  from  the  crude  Aliments,  but  yet 
not  while  they  are  in  a  crude  State^  until  they 
have  been  attenuated  and  digefted  by  the  chylifi- 
cative  and  fanguificative  Organs  or  the  individual 
Body  itfelf,  which  requires  to  be  repaired. 

§.  1021,  The  Matter  then  for  this  Reftitu- 
tion,  (§.  1020.)  is  fupplied  from  the  folid  and 
fluid  Aliments,  and  poffibly  from  the  Air  l, 
which  being  taken  into  the  Body,  prepared 
and  modified  by  the  Performance  of  the  fe- 
veral  vital,  natural  and  animal  Actions,  are 
by  the  fame  Actions  applied  when  fo  prepared 
to  the  feveral  Parts  which  want  to  be  re- 
paired z;  and  laftly,  by  the  fame  Actions  the 
Body  is  freed  from  the  old  worn  out  fuper- 
fiuous  or  crude  Matter,  which  might  be  inju- 
rious if  retained. 

1  There  is  no  room  to  doubt  but  the  Body  ab- 
forbs  fome  Nourimment  from  the  Air,  which  is  a 
Chaos  or  confufed  Mixture  of  the  finer  Parts 
of  all  Bodies,  many  of  which  muft  be  nutritious, 
and  more  immediately  foas  they  are  already  vola- 
tilized or  attenuated.  It  has  been  demonftrated 

by 

2 


§.  1024.       Of  Health.  239 

by  an  Inftance  of  a  Man  in  England^  that  fo  much 
Nourifhment  may  be  drawn  in  from  Fomentations 
applied  externally,  as  will  be  fufficient  to  fupport 
Life.  It  is  net  therefore  difficult  to  conceive, 
that  the  Body  mould  take  fome  of  its  Nourifli- 
ment  from  the  Air. 

a  A  Perfon  who  feeds  only  upon  Milk,  is  fup- 
ported  by  it  after  being  prepared,  digefted  and 
applied  by  the  refpective  Organs,  while  the  more 
crude  and  grofs  Parts  unfit  for  Nutrition  are  ex- 
pelled out  of  the  Body  under  the  Form  of  inte- 
ftinai  Fasces ;  for  even  the  pureft  Aliments,  Milk, 
Whey,  and  even  Jellies,  contain  excrementitious 
Parts  which  require  to  be  feparated  ;  for  the  pu- 
reft Milk  inje&ed  into  the  Veins  of  a  living  Ani- 
mal is  deftruclive. 

§.  1022..  From  what  has  been  faid,  it  is 
evident  that  this  whole  Art  of  preferving 
Health,  is  comprifed  in  thofe  Rules  which 
have  been  already  given  for  directing  us  how 
to  apply  and  adapt  the  feveral  neceffary  Parti- 
culars of  the  Non-naturals,  (§.  744.  or  745.) 
fo  as  to  fatisfy  the  Purpofes  now  mentioned 
(§.  1020.)  in  every  particular  Conftitution. 

§.  1023.  Yet  it  is  difficult  to  lay  down 
thefe  Rules  in  fuch  a  manner  adapted  to  each 
Conftitution,  as  that  the  Obfervation  of  them 
fhall  be  equally  profitable  to  all  Men. 

§.  1024.  And  the  Caufe  of  this  Difficulty 
lies  chiefly  in  the  ldiofyncrafy  \  that  is,  in 
the  particular  Habit  or  Conftitution  of  each 
individual  Perfon  5  from  whence  follow  often 

oppofite 


24-0  Of  Health.       §.  1026. 

oppofite  Effedls  in  Men,  who  yet  live  after 
the  fame  Rule. 

1  This  confifts  in  the  Proportion  betwixt  the 
Solids  and  Fluids,  and  is  the  Caufe  why  the  Acti- 
ons of  one  Perfon  di':erfrom  another,  though  they 
are  equally  healthy.  But  thefe  Actions  convert  the 
jngefted  Aliments  into  animal  Humours,  which 
Humours  are  not  produced  alike  from  the  fame 
Aliments  taken  by  different  People.  There  are 
iome  who  live  upon  pure  Water,  Apples  and 
Herbs  ;  others  again  eat  all  Sort  of  Aliments,  and 
each  of  them  are  healthy  in  their  Way  :  but  give 
the  low  vegetable  Diet  of  the  firft  to  the  latter, 
and  the  rich  Varieties  of  the  latter  to  the  former, 
and  they  will  both  of  them  be  indifpofed.  It  can- 
not therefore  be  affirmed  in  general  of  any  Ali- 
ment, that  it  is  either  good  or  bad,  but  with  ref- 
pect  to  its  Agreement  with  the  particular  Habit 
and  Cuftoms  of  each  individual  Perfon. 

1025.  Thus  indeed  every  one  keeps  his 
Health,  and  often  entire,  though  People  fe^ 
verally  make  a  different,  and  even  oppofite 
Ufe  of  the  fix  Non-naturals  ;  when  on  the 
contrary,  if  they  were  to  change  mutually 
.with  each  other  their  Methods  of  living,  both 
Parties  altering  their  Way  of  Life  would  he 
ill,  while  thofe,  who  went  on  their  own  way, 
would  continue  in  Health. 

§.  1026.  Cuftom  itfelf  alfo,  which  is  not 
improperly  called  a  fecond  Nature  or  Idio* 
fyncrafy,  makes  a  furprifing  Difference  with 
refpeft  to  the  Effedts  of  Air?  Food,  Drink, 

Exereife, 


§.1028.        Of  Healths  241' 

Exercife,  Medicines,  Poifons,  and  other  Parti- 
culars. 

§.  1027.  Wherefore  a  ludden  Change  from 
accuftomed  to  new  things,  is  always  and  every 
where  very  dangerous ;  even  tho'  the  Change 
fhould  be  from  reputed  ill  Habits,  to  fuch  as 
arejudged  to  be  good. 

§.  1028.  But  gradually  changing,  and  fre- 
quently "carving  1  the  daily  way  of  living,  is 
an  extraordinary  Help  towards  the  Preferva- 
tion  of  Health. 

1  This  is  the  Advice  of  Celfus^  who  fays,  "  that 
c<  a  healthy  Perfon  who  is  his  own  Governor, 
u  ought  not  to  tie  himfelf  down  to  any  ftricTt 
*'  Rules,  but  fhould  vary  his  way  of  Life,  being 
46  fometimes  in  the  City,  but  oftner  in  theCoun- 
"  try  ;  fometimes  to  eat  as  long  as  he  can,  and  ac 
**  other  times  but  fparingly,  yet  fo  as  never 'to 
*c  continue  long  in  the  fame  way,"  feV.  They 
who  are  over  moderate  in  their  way  of  Life  enjoy 
the  moft  perfect  Health,  but  then  fuch  cannot 
fuffer  the  leaft  Alteration  without  being  indifpofed, 
fo  that  they  cannot  live  longer  than  they  fhut 
themfelves  up  like  Diogenes  in  a  Tub.  A  certain 
Phyfician  who  lives  by  a  ftricl:  Regimen  according 
to  the  ftatical  Rules  of  Sanctorius,  leads  indeed 
as  yet  a  healthy,  But  oufillanimous  Life;  and  upon 
the  flighteft  Alter  on  of  Air  being  indifpofed, 
thinks  he  is  about  to  die,  as  indeed  at  laft  it  hap- 
pens, according  to  his  Prediction,  from  a  very 
flight  DiforJer,  which  would  not  have  injured 
one  who  indifferently  accuftoms  himfelf  to  every 
thing. 

R  §.  1029,  # 


242  Of  Health.  §.1029. 

§.10^9.  An  Air  which  is  very  heavy  \ 
and  at  the  fame  time,  as  we  commonly  ob- 
ferve  it,  itrene  and  dry,  is  the  moft  healthy 

in  every  Country  \ 

1  This  feems  to  be  a  Paradox  to  the  common 
People,  fince  every  Body  before  the  invention  of 
the  barometer,  pronounced  the  Air  to  be  heavy, 
when  the  Body  feerned  to  be  the  moft  heavy  to  the 
Senfe,  and  that  the  Air  was  light  when  the  Body 
feemed  fo.  But  at  prefent  it  is  fufficiently  de- 
monftrated,  that  when  the  Eaft  or  South  Wind 
blows,  the  Limbs  feeming  heavy  and  weak,  the 
Air  is  light,  and  that  it  is  the  heavieft  when  there 
is  a  clear  Sky  and  a  northerly  Wind,  at  which  time 
we  perceive  our  Bodies  lighter  as  to  Senfe  ;  and  in 
general,  excepting  the  Clouds,  the  fereneft  Air  is 
the  heavieft. 

z  To  us  the  North  Wind  is  the  moft  healthy, 
and  to  other  Countries  that  Wind  is  always  the 
moft  falutary  which  blows  over  the  largeft  Tract 
of  the  Continent,  and  therefore  arrives  impreg- 
nated with  the  feweft  Vapours  exhaled  from  the 
Sea,  as  the  North  Wrind  with  refpedl  to  us.  But 
in  general,  any  Winds  are  better  than  a  Calm  \  for 
the  Air  only  by  ftagnating  a  long  time  becomes 
peftilential,  more  efpecially  when  hot,  and  filled 
with  moift  Vapours. 

§  1030.  The  various  Effects  of  the  Air  and 
its  falutary  or  deftrudtive  Nature,  will  be  de- 
fcribed  in  treating  of  the  Caufes  of  Health, 
(§.  1 060.)  as  they  have  been  in  part  under  the 
Caufes  of  Difeafes,  fo  far  as  they  are  lodged 

in 

■ 


§.  1031-       Of  Health.  243 

in  the  Air,  (§.  746.  to  754.)  which  Places 
you  are  to  confult  for  what  might  be  faid 
here. 

§.  103  r.  The  Qualities  likewife  of  the 
Air,  which  by  their  Accefs  produce  Difeafe?, 
•may  be  corrected  by  their  Oppofites^;  for  a 
cold  and  moiit  Air  may  be  rendered  warm 
and  dry,  by  kindling  Fires  1  fed  with  dry  or 
fpicy  Woods,  by  the  Exhalation  of  warm 
fragrant  Spi  es,  either  fpontaneoufly,  or  by 
the  Heat  of  the  Fire,  and  by  admitting,  or  arti- 
ficially exciting  a  warm  dry  Wind  :  But  if  the 
Air  offends  by  its  Heat  and  Drynefs,  it  may 
be  corre&ed  by  the  Exhalation  of  cold  things  * 
fpread  abroad  by  an  artificial  Wind,  or  by  the 
watery  Exhalations  which  tranfpire  from 
co  ling  Plants,  fprinkled  with,  or  fet  in  Wa- 
ter, fuch  as  the  Willow,  Poplar,  Rofe,  Elder, 
Aih,  Mulberry-tree,  &c. 

1  One  may  procure  the  Air  of  one's  Chamber 
to  be  ferene  and  dry,  however  moid  it  may  be 
wichout.  I  can  make  Clefts  communicating  be- 
twixt an  adjacent  Stove  and  the  Chimney  of  the 
Chamber,  and  other  Communications openinginto 
another  Chamber  oppofue  the  Chimney,  and  then 
by  burning  Juniper-wood,  Fir,  Amber,  &c.  in 
the  other  Chamber,  from  whence  only  the  Air  can 
be  admitted  over  the  Fire,  efcaping  again  other 
ways,  there  will  be  thus  a  perpetual  Succefiion  of 
new  Air  free  from  Moifture  •,  and  the  Succefs  of 
this  may  be  teftified  from  the  chemical  Salts  very 
difficultly  melting  in  fuch  an  Air,  which  if  moifr, 
is  known  to  diflblve  them  readily  •,  it  may  be  alfo 
R  2  difcovered 


244  Of  Health.         §.  1033, 

difcovered  by  a  Sponge  which  fwells  in  a  moid 
Air,  but  contracts  in  a  dry  one. 

.  *  Water  of  itfelf  in  a  VefTel  does  not  exhale 
much,  but  if  thefe  Plants  are  placed  in  Water, 
they  perfpire  an  incredible  Quantity,  as  is  evident 
from  what  they  drink  up-,  and  from  hence  they 
render  the  Air  about  them  extremely  moift.  Thi« 
has  been  cleared  up  lately  by  Dr.  Hales  in  his  vege- 
table Statics.  But  the  Plants  which  perfpire  mod, 
are  the  Willow,  Rofe,  Poplar,  Elder,  Mulberry  - 
tree,  and  the  aquatic  Plants.  But  the  Air  may 
be  alfo  cooled  by  freezing  Mixtures  with  Sal 
Ammoniacum. 

§.  1032.  An  Air  therefore  which  is  ferene, 
heavy,  temperately  warm  and  dry,  coming 
from  clean  inland  Countries,  and  off  from 
Rivers  agitated  by  a  gentle  Wind,  free  from 
fudden  and^great  Changes,  open  and  rurai, 
and  purged  from  oily  and  faline  Exhalations, 
is  the  beft  1  in .  general  for  the  Prefervation  of 
Health. 

1  In  fuch  an  Air  ought  to  be  fixed  the  Courts 
of  Princes,  and  Country-houfcsof  thofe  who  defire 
to  be  bleft  with  a  pure  Air, 

§.  1033.  But  that  Food  is  reckoned  the 
bsft  and  mod  wholfome  which  is  inoft  Am- 
ple, free  from  all  Acrimony,  and  containing 
but  few  Faeculencies  or  grofs  Faeces,  and  not 
con  fift  ing  of  Parts  which  may  be  too  eafily 
dijjipated 1 ;  but  coming  very  near  to  the 
healthy  Nature  of  our  Bodies,  or  which  may 
be  very  eafily  affimilated  thereto  by  our  Di- 

2  geftive 


§.  1034-  ®f  Health.  245 
geftive  Powers,  or  which  has  received  a 
Difpofition  to  thefe  Qualities,  by  the  Art  of 
Cookery, 

1  That  Food  is  beft  which  approaches  neareft 
to  the  gelatinous  Nature  of  the  healthy  Solids 
and  Fluids  which  compofeour  Bodies,  and  which 
are  free  from  all  Acrimony,  without  pofTeffing  any 
ftrong  Smell  or  Tafte  ;  as  the  penetrating  Lord 
Bacon  long  ago  obferved.  Such  Aliment  is  perma- 
nent and  cannot  be  too  eafily  difiipated  whereas 
that  which  is  volatile,  and  excels  in  Fragrancy,  is 
alfo  inconftant,  not  affording  healthy  durable 
Juices.  All  the  Aliments  with  which  we  are  fup- 
plied  by  Nature,  are  therefore  of  a  mild  and  fofc 
Difpofition,  whether  Flefh,  Pulfe,  or  ripe  Garden- 
fruits.  Natural  Drinks  are  alfo  very  mild  or  foft; 
for  fermented  Liquors  are  not  the  Produce  of  Na- 
ture. But  thefe  Aliments  all  confift  of  Parts  which 
are  not  very  eafily  difiipated.  From  Mud  before 
it  has  fermented,  the  finer  Parts  are  not  fo  eafily 
difiipated  as  when  it  is  become  Wine,  even  though 
it  be  reduced  to  one  twelfth  Part  by  boiling  •,  but 
fo  foon  as  it  has  fermented  and  become  Wine,  if 
one  hundredth  Part  of  its  Weight  be  exhaled,  all 
the  reft  will  be  an  ufelefs  Mafs,  of  no  Benefit  in 
the  Stomach. 

§.  1034.  Of  this  nature  are  all  thofe  Ali- 
ments which  are  made,  1.  from  the  feveral 
forts  of  Corn  or  mealy  Grain  \  fufficiently 
ripe,  clean,  moderately  dry  and  frefh,  as 
Wheat,  Spelt,  Rye,  Barley,  Oats,  Rice,  Buck- 
Wheat,  Maize,  Miliet,  Panic,  Sago,  &c. 
which  by  grinding,  kneading,  fermenting  and 
baking,  are  fo  prepared,  as  to  come  to  us 
R  3  with 


246  Of  Health.         §.  1034, 

with  an  agreeable  Smell  and  Tafte  under  the 
Denomination  of  Bread1 '.  2.  From  the  legu- 
minous or  podded  kind,  as  well  with  their 
tender  Hufks,  and  while  the  Seeds  are  green, 
as  when  they  are  ripe  ;  fuch  as  broad  Beans^ 
French  Beans,  Peas,  Lentils,  Tares,  Vetches, 
&c.  after  preparing  them  by  macerating,  boil- 
ing \  grinding,  and  often  by  a  gentle  roafting. 

3.  From  frefh  and  green  pot  or  failed  Herbs  4, 
prepared  only  by  tying  up  their  Leaves,  and 
keeping  them  from  the  Air  5  fuch  as  Lettuce  5, 
Endive,  Succory,  Purflain,  Smallage,  Cabbage, 
Mallow,  Spinage,  Beet,  &c.  more  efpecially 
if  they  are  gently  boiled  in  their  own  Juice. 

4.  From  Fiuits  of  the  more  folic!  kind,  fuch 
as  Artichokes,  Nuts,  Almonds,  Turnips,  Park 
nips,  Radifhes,  Beet-roots,  &c.  as  alfo  the 
fofter  kind,  as  Apples,  Pears,  Plums,  Cherr 
ries;  and  the  pomiferous  climbing  Annuals,  as 
Mel  ns,  &c.  5.  From  the  Juices  and  Flefh 
of  animal  Bodies,  young  6,  healthy,  and  not 
over-fat,  whether  Fifh,  Fowl,  Quadruped  or 
Infect,  prepared  either  by  boiling,  roafting, 
frying  or  baking ;  to  which  add  Milk  and 
Eggs. 

1  Thefe  ought  to  undergo  a  previous  Fermen- 
tation, in  order  to  depofic  their  Flatulency,  or 
deprive  them  of  the  Power  of  generating  elaftic 
Air,  which  they  are  capable  of  doing  in  a  won- 
derful manner,  as  Mr.  Boyle  difcover'd.  Thofe 
who  live  only  upon  Corn  are  commonly  the  long- 
eft  Livers  ;  of  which  we  have  an  Inftance  in  the 
GymnofophiftS)  the  moft  ancient  of  the  Hiilofophers, 


$.1034-        Of  Health.  247 

who  never  eat  any  thing  that  had  Life,  nor  any 
thing  which  grew  under  Ground,  but  lived  entire- 
ly upon  Vegetables  growing  out  of  the  Earth,  and 
enjoying  the  Influence  of  the  Sun's  Rays.  Thefe 
were  fo  healthy  and  long-lived,  that  being  tired  of 
living,  they  made  away  with  and  burnt  them- 
selves alive. 

4  This  is  the  moft  common  nnd  received  Food 
of  Mankind,  being  the  Bafis  of  Nourifhment  in 
all  Nations;  and  this  Bread  is  made  in  Europe  of 
Wheat,  in  Afia  of  Rice,  and  in  America  of  Maize 
or  Indian  Wheat.  Certain  it  is,  that  the  Galley- 
Slaves,  who  are  chained  down  to  the  hardeft  La- 
bours in  the  Mediterranean,  continue  ftrong  and 
healthy,  only  with  dry  Billcet  and  Water,  unlefs 
the  fcorching  Air  or  fome  epidemical  Difeafe  af- 
flicts them.  The  fame  Obfervation  is  alfo  true  of 
Men,  who  are  either  condemned  or  reduced  by 
Misfortunes  to  labour  at  the  Oar. 

3  The  Ancients  made  ufe  of  roafted  Wheat  or 
parched  Corn  as  an  agreeable  Food,  which  had 
depofited  its  Meal  in  Water.  Of  this  fort  of  Food 
we  read  in  Scripture-,  and  Hippocrates  recommends 
to  us  roafted  Vetches  as  a  very  light  kind  of  Food, 
after  they  have  been  macerated  a  Night  in  Water. 
The  Meal  of  Beans  is  more  grofs  ur  heavy  than 
that  of  Wheat,  and  is  therefore  more  agreeable  for 
the  ftronger  laborious  People. 

A  Boiled  in  a  fmall  Quantity  of  Fkfh  Broths, 
and  eaten  all  together  ;  for  it  is  wrong  in  Cooks 
to  throw  away  the  Liquor,  in  which  refides  the 
whole  Virtue  of  the  Plant,  inffead  of  which  they 
treat  their  Guefts  with  the  Skeletons  or  Carcafes 
only  of  the  Greens. 

5  'The  Italians  have  a  common  Saying,  That 
Lettuce  was  the  moil  likely  Plant  in  Pa radife  to 
prolong  Life, 

R  4  Of 


248  Of  Health.  §.  1035, 

6  Of  which  nature  are  Eggs,  which  are  much 
better  raw  than  boiled.  The  fame  is  alfo  true  of 
Mufcles  and  Oyfters,  which  by  boiling  become 
harder  and  of  a  worfe  Digeftion,  fo  as  to  pafs 
through  our  Bodies  without  any  Alteration  in  their 
Subftance.  Even  other  Parts  of  Animals  are  eaten 
raw  without  Offence  by  feme  People.  The  Prince 
of  Conde  fed  a  Man  fome  time  with  raw  Flefh 
only,  and  he  lived  with  great  Strength ;  but  was 
extremely  voracious  and  fierce  al moil  like  a  Beaft, 
his  voracious  A.ppetite  inclining  him  to  fall  upon 
the  firft  Ox  or  other  Creature  coming  in  his  way ; 
he  was  alfo  fubjecl  toa  perpetual  Diarrhoea.  Lord 
Bacon  thinks  that  Flefh-eaters  live  more  healthy 
than  thofe  that  feed  upon  Grain  or  vegetable 
Food. 

§.  1035.  But  Aliments  which  are  hard^ 
dry,  grofs  or  thick,  heavy  and  feculent,  are 
ferviceable  to  thofe  who  have  very  ftrong  Vif- 
cera,  a  quick  Digeftion,  undergo  great  Exer- 
$ife  1  or  mufcular  Motions,  and  in  whom  the 
Humours  move  very  quick  while  they  are  in 
Health  :  but  Aliments  which  are  foft,  moift, 
thin,  iight,  and  free  from  grofs  Parts,  ei;her 
difagree  with  fuch  People,  or  elfe  they  are 
obliged  to  be  perpetually  feeding. 

1  It  is  a  Rule,  that  the  Food  mould  be  prq- 
portion'd  in  Quality  and  Quantity  to  the  Labour. 
If  a  Ploughman  be  fed  with  thin  Flefri-broths 
mixed  with  Citron  Juice,  he  will  be  as  hungry 
within  an  hour  after  as  at  firft,  and  be  almoft  rea- 
dy to  faint ;  but  give  him  Bacon  and  brown  Bread, 
and  he  will  find  himfelf  in  good  plight,  with 
Strength  fufficient. 


§•  io37*  Of  Health.  249 
§.  1036.  But  for  thofe  who  have  weak 
Vifcera,  a  difficult  Digeftion,  and  who  lead 
a  ftill,  fedentary,  una&ive  Life,  fuch  Aliments 
are  beft  as  are  prepared  by  Nature  or  Art, 
fo  as  to  come  near  the  Texture  or  Confiftencq 
of  thin  Chyle  \ 

1  Men  of  Letters  are  generally  willing  to  in- 
dulge their  Appetite,  and  venture  to  feed  plenti- 
fully upon  the  fame  grofs  Food  with  a  Plough- 
man, and  immediately  after  give  way  to  Sleep  and 
Inactivity.  But  fuch  grofs  Food  fills  them  with 
Pifeafes  9  for  they  ought  either  to  abftain  from 
fuch  Food,  or  elfe  to  leave  their  Studies,  and  ad- 
dict themfelves  to  Exercife.  This  is  an  Admo- 
nition propofed  by  many  wife  Men ;  and  Celfus 
teftifies  that  grofs  Food  caufes  the  Head-ach,  and 
difturbs  the  Sleep  in  thofe  not  accuftomed  thereto* 

§.  1037.  ^n  Habits  inclined  to  an  alcalefcent* 
Acrimony,  acefcent  Aliments  are  the  beft,  (as 
in  §.  1034) ,  but  when  the  Humours  are  in- 
clined to  an  acid  Acrimony,  alcalefcent  Food 
is  the  beft,  fuch  as  is  taken  from  Fifh,  Fowl, 
Quadrupeds  or  Infodts. 

1  Baked  or  boiled  Flefh-meats  given  in  the  hot 
Summer- weather  to  a  Perfon  addicted  to  hard  La- 
bour, will  turn  his  Siomach,  or  incline  him  to  be 
fick  and  feverim,  if  they  are  not  mixed  with  Acids 
or  Salt-,  on  the  contrary,  alcalefcent  Aliments  will 
agree  with,  and  be  moft  liked  by  one  who  has  a 
prevailing  Acid  in  the  Humours,  as  the  Broth  of 
Cray  fifh  recommended  formerly  by  Hippocrates ; 
of  which  nature  alfo  is  the  Jelly  made  from  Viper's 


2  5°  Qf  Health.         §.  1039. 

Flefh,  which  the  Italians  praife  much.  But  if 
fuch  aicaline  Aliments  were  given  to  a  Perfon  af- 
flicted with  an  aicaline  Difeafe,  they  would  deftroy 
the  Patient.  Pecquet  having  made  the  noble  Dis- 
covery of  the  thoracic  Duel:  after  Enjiachius  had 
obferved  it  in  a  Plorfe,  fell  into  a  very  extraordi- 
nary Notion,  that  the  Digeftion  of  Food  ought  not 
to  be  promoted  by  Exercife  of  Body,  but  by  drink- 
ing of  fpirituous  Liquors  only,  in  which  Courfe 
fettinghimfelffor  an  Example  he  foonperiflied.  He 
was  for  fome  time  very  well  under  his  Courfe  of 
prinking,  but  by  degrees  the  Stomach  and  Inteftines 
contracted  them. 'elves,  fo  that  they  would  tranf- 
mit  nothing  but  Spirit  of  Wine,  and  he  at  laft  died 
fuddenly  in  his  public  Office  at  the  anatomical 
Theatre.  Such  fpirituous  Liquors  may  indeed 
nourifh  for  fome  Days,  as  Democritus  was  fupport- 
ed  by  the  Vapours  of  warm  Bread ;  but  when  they 
have  become  habitual,  they  lofe  their  Efficacy. 

§.  1038.  Upon  thefe  few  Principles  depend 
the  whole  Bufinefs  of  chufing,  preparing  and 
determining  the  Quantity  of  the  Aliments  or 
Diet,  provided  you  are  firft  acquainted  with 
the  Nature  of  the  Vifcera  and  Humours  which 
are  to  concodt  them,  and  alfo  the  Tempera*- 
ture,  Age,  Sex,  Courfe  of  Life  and  Studies  of 
the  Perfon. 

§.  1039.  The  Quantity  of  Food  mod  con^ 
venient  for  every  one,  is  that  by  which  they 
afterwards  find  themfelves  refremed  without 
any  Heavinefs  1  or  Opprefhon.  Moderation  1 
is  fafeft  for  weak  Perfons  5  but  Excefs  more 
agreeable  to  thofe  who  are  of  a  ftrong  or  ro-r 
buft  Habit, 

They 

■ 


§.  1040.        Of  Health.  251 

1  They  that  rife  from  Table  with  a  Heavinefs 
or  Inclination  to  deep,  have  eat  too  much  Food  ; 
but  the  beft  Proportion  of  the  Aliments  is  when 
the  Body  feems  refreshed,  light,  and  fie  for  Exer- 
ci  e  after  eating. 

2  Sobriety  or  a  fpare  Diet  would  be  lefs  conve- 
nient to  a  robuft  Man,  whofe  Habit  would  wade 
by  adhering  to  too  thin  Aliments.  They  who 
have  been  remarkable  for  long  Livers,  are  feldom 
known  to  have  fed  upon  Flefh-broths  or  the  like, 
but  upon  Bacon,  coarfe  Bread,  and  other  grofs 
Food.  Hunger  is  one  of  the  mod  acute  Difeafes ; 
for  if  Aliments  are  not  given  to  allay  it,  the  Body  is 
prey'd  upon,  all  the  Humours  become  acrimoni- 
ous, the  Bile  and  Blood  efpecially  become  alcaline^ 
whence  follow  a  Fever,  Wafting,  £s?V. 

§.1040.  But  Pickles  made  of  Acids  \  Salt 
and  Spices  are  prejudicial  to  healthy  People  by 
their  Acrimony;  whence  they  injure  the  final- 
left  Veffels,  create  afalfe  Appetite  by  their 
Stimulus,  and  overload  the  Body  more  than  it 
is  nourifhed. 

1  Wealthy  People  who  have  been  gluttonous  in 
their  Youth,  continually  whetting  their  Appetites 
by  their  Luxury  of  Sauces,  EsrV.  foon  grow  old  ;  for 
the  VefTels  are  deftroyed  or  wore  out  by  fuch  acrid 
Juices,  and  the  Stomach  by  being  overfilled  lofes 
its  contractile  Power  ;  fo  that  at  length  they  are 
obliged  to  force  an  Appetite  by  Bitters,  &c.  and 
by  this  means  the  Body  is  at  length  depraved,  fo 
that  in  the  end  no  Food  agrees  with  them.  Hence 
we  may  juftly  condemn  thofe  high  relifhed  Ra- 
gous,  as  Swalve  juftly  obferves  in  his  Treatife 
Be  querulis  ventrkuli. 

§.1041. 


2 $2  Of  Health.  §.  104.1, 

§.  1 04  r, From  the  fame  Rules  alfo  (§.  1035 
to  1 04 1.)  we  may  underftand  what  fort  of 
Prink  is  moft  healthy  and  convenient;  for  if 
it  be- required  only  to  quench  the  Thirft,  and 
corredt  the  Drinefs,  Thicknefs,  or  Acrimony 
of  the  Humours,  then  cold  Water  \  which  is 
clear,  light,  and  without  Smell  or  Tafte,  but 
exercifed  by  the  Current  *  of  a  Brook  or  clear 
River,  is  the  beft  of  Drink  for  a  ftrong  Per- 
fon. 

1  Water  is  certainly  more  healthy  than  Wine ; 
For  the  Difeafes  of  all  healthy  People  are  acute,  or 
arife  from  too  intenfe  a  Motion  of  the  Humours, 
and  chronical  Difeafes  feidom  appear  before  the  vi- 
tal Powers  are  weaken'd  or  deficient  fo  that  a 
ftrong  Man  is  rarely  airlifted  with  any  thing  be- 
fore the  fiftieth  Year,  but  what  is  of  an  acute  or 
inflammatory  Nature  :  if  now  fuch  a  Man  was  to 
Indulge  himfelf  in  heating  or  ftimulating  Drinks, 
they  muft  evidently  either  increafe,  or  bring  on  his 
Diforder.  Some  indeed  anfwer  to  this,  tnat  it  is 
uncertain  whether  they  ever  arrive  to  fuch  an  Age, 
and  that  therefore  they  may  indulge  themfelves 
as  they  pleafe  ;  but  thus  they  run  blindfold  into 
Danger.  But  the  drinking  of  cold  Water  depu- 
rates and  frees  the  Humours  from  their  Acrimony, 
ftrengtnens  all  the  Vifcera,  andrenews  the  Tone 
of  the  Stomach  ;  and  hence  it  was  efteemed  as  an 
univerfal  Medicine  both  among  the  Greeks  and  Ro-* 
pians.  If  healthy  young  People  would  be  content- 
ed with  this  Drink,  they  would  hardly  ever  be  af-- 
fii&ed  with  acute  Difeafes.  When  Thirft  is  urgent, 
or  when  there  is  a  Redundancy  of  bilious  or  acid 
Acrimony,  Water  is  the  beft  Medicine,  and  drink- 


§.  io43-        Of  Health*  ^53 

ing  of  it  cold  is  better  than  warm,  provided  it  be 
taken  in  fmall  Draughts  when  the  Body  is  noc 
heated. 

*  Herodotus  attributes  the  Longevity  of  the 
^Ethiopians  to  the  Lightnefs  of  their  Waters,  which 
is  fuch  that  Wood  finks  in  them  ;  and  it  is  certain, 
that  in  our  Days  the  lighteft  Waters  exercifed 
with  running  are  the  mofi  wholfome. 

§.  104.2.  But  if  fuch  a  Drink  is  required  as 
will  anfwer  thefe  Intentions,  and  at  the  fame 
time  warm  \  attenuate  and  increafe  the  Mo- 
tion of  the  Humours,  then  Malt  Liquors  2  are 
ferviceable,  which  have  been  well  boiled,  fer- 
mented, and  kept  no  longer  than  they  are  well 
refined  ;  to  which  add  clear,  fragrant  and  plea- 
fant  Wines  5  but  then  the  Choice,  Quantity 
and  Ufe  of  thefe  are  again  to  be  determined 
from  the  Circumftances  of  the  Perfon  for 
whom  they  are  defigned, 

1  In  public  Rejoicings  even  Socrates  would 
fometimes  intermix  Mirth  with  his  Cares ;  nor  did 
he  fpeak  againft  Feafting.  All  thefe  Particulars 
are  necefTary  to  be  known  by  the  Phyfician,  who 
is  frequently  afked  by  great  People,  what  Courfe 
they  mail  take  in  the  Diet  of  their  Son  or  Daugh- 
ter in  order  to  keep  them  healthy  ?  In  which  Cafe 
it  is  always  advifeable  to  order  the  mod  fimple 
Diet. 

1  Fine  Ales  are  ever  preferable  to  Wines  in 
Dropfies  and  leucophlegmatic  Diforders. 

§.  1043.  Aliments  the  lead  fat  or  oily,  and 
Drinks  the  moft  watery,  render  the  Body  tnoft 
healthy  and  ftrong. 

§.  1044, 


254  Health.         §.  1044/ 

§.  1044..  Exercife  1  of  Body  after  Digeftion* 
or  before  Meals*  continu'd  till  the  Skin  begins 
to  be  in  a  gentle  breathing  Sweat,  or  till  there 
begins  to  be  a  Senfe  of  Wearinefs  in  the  Muf- 
cles,  the  Body  feeming  lighter,  is  the  beft  and 
rtioft  healthy  Rule.  From  hence  alio  we  may 
be  able  to  lay  down  a  Rule  for  the  Time  and 
Seafons  of  Reft. 

1  The  ftrongeft  Foot-foldiers  lead  the  moft 
healthy  Lives,  being  content  with  their  coarfe 
Ammunition- bread  and  clear  "Water  ;  for  three 
or  four  Pence  a  Day  will  not  permit  them  to  Jive 
richly*  But  People  who  have  been  ufed  to  a  bet- 
ter way  of  living  are  not  fo  capable  of  fuftaining 
Labour,  for  they  are  fooh  out  of  Breath,  and  would 
in  a  little  time  faint.  But  even  too  much  Labour 
is  fatal  to  all  kinds  of  Animals,  and  great  Fatigues 
exhauft  People's  Lives  before  their  time.  Among 
a  thoufand  Hufbandmen  who  get  their  Bread  by 
the  moft  intenfe  Labour,  there  are  very  few  who 
arrive  to  their  fixtieth  Year,  before  which  time 
they  are  commonly  worn  out  by  too  much  Work. 
But  Men  of  Letters  who  fpend  their  Lives  in  a 
different  way,  ought  never  to  fit  down  to  Table, 
without  having  firft  exercis'd  themlelves  for  about 
amHour,  according  to  the  Advice  of  Leonidas  ; 
for  thefe  on  the  contrary  fit  ftil],  and  are  as  much 
injured  for  want  of  Exercife,  fo  that  they  very 
rarely  reach  a  great  Age,  as  is  evident  from  the 
News-Papers. 

2  When  the  Stomach  is  too  full  and  diftended 
with  Aliments,  which  by  degrees  ferment  in  a  lit- 
tle time,  and  fwell  the  Stomach,  more  violent 
Exercifes  muft  at  that  time  be  prejudicial  not  only 
to  the  Stomach  but  to  the  feveral  adjacent  Vifcera. 

§•  io45- 


§.  1046.  Of  Health.  255 

§*  1045.  The  beft  time  for  Sleep  1  is  when 
the  Body  grows  dull  or  heavy ;  and  the  bed 
time  for  rifing  is  when  the  Body  upon  waking 
appears  refrefh'd,  and  inclin'd  to  Activity. 

1  Sleeping  too  long  always  ftupifies  the  Intel- 
lefts.  Whether  Sleep  is  allowable  after  Meals,  is 
a  Queftion  much  controverted  •,  the  Generality- 
have  oppofed  it  but  Platerus  being  afked  by  his 
Prince  in  a  Confutation  of  Phyficians  at  the  Spaw, 
whether  it  was  wholfomeft  to  fleep  before  or  after 
Dinner  ?  gave  his  opinion,  in  Oppofition  to  all 
the  reft  of  the  Phyficians,  in  favour  of  the  latter  ; 
fince  from  his  own  Experience,  tho'  he  was  then 
above  feventy  Years  of  Age,  a  Day  had  not  paf- 
fed  without  his  taking  a  Nap  in  the  Afternoon, 
though  he  lived  free  from  Difeafes.  The  whole- 
fomenefs  of  this  Practice  is  dictated  by  Nature, 
provided  it  be  not  carried  too  far,  fince  all  Ani- 
mals are  fleepy  after  Meals ;  and  if  Perfons  go 
to  reading  then,  they  are  heavy,  drowfy,  and  do 
nothing  as  they  ought  ;  and  therefore  it  is  better 
to  deep  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  Hour,  and  then 
being  refrefhed  to  return  to  Labour. 

§.  1046.  All  Medicines  1  either  evacuating 
or  acrid  under  any  Title,  are  to  be  altogether 
avoided . 

1  Medicines  ought  not  to  be  ufed  by  a  healthy 
Perfon,  who  needs  no  Phyfician-,  but  if  a  Prince 
or  great  Perfon  being  alarmed  at  the  Shadow  of  a 
Diforder,  applies  to  his  Phyfician  for  a  Remedy, 
as  they  would  not  be  pleafed  to  be  anfwer'd,  that 
they  did  not  want  Phyfic,  and  as  fuch  an  Anfwer 
might  cut  themfclves  off  from  a  good  Dependance  ; 

therefore 


&§6  Of  Health.        %.  1048*  ' 

therefore  fomething  is  to  be  prefcribed  as  a  high- 
ibunding  Arcanum,  which  can  do  no  harm,  if  but 
little  good. 

§.  1 047.  But  Cleahfings  of  the  external  Skirt 
by  rubbing,  wafting,  bathing,  fwirnming, 
and  (having,  are  extremely  falutary. 

§.  1048*  Yet  the  Pafiions  of  the  Mind  are 
riot  to  be  altogether  fupprejjed  \  nor  raifed  to 
too  great  a  Pitch  5  fince  the  former  would  be 
attended  with  a  Stupidity  or  Dulnefs  of  the 
Spirits,  and  the  latter  muft  be  followed  with 
a  difturbed  Circulation.  But  Hope  2  and  De- 
fire,  of  all  Pafiions,  are  found  to  be  the  moft 
falutary  to  the  Body. 

1  Without  any  Pafiions  of  the  Mind,  Life  burns 
away  without  Light  and  Alacrity  but  too  intenfe 
Pafiions  hurry  on  Life  too  faft,  and  wafte  the 
nervous  Fluid. 

a  Hope  is  the  Expectation  of  fomething  defired, 
which,  when  fupported  by  certain  Grounds*  is  the 
fweeteft  of  all  mental  Affections  ;  and  is  even 
more  amhble  than  the  PofTefiion  itfelf.  It  is  the" 
Advice  of  Lord  Bacon  never  to  fatiate  our  Defires* 
but  to  leave  fome  part  of  the  Inclination  (till  to 
be  fatisfied.  Old  Men  of  Erudition  live  as  if  they 
were  Stones,  when  they  in  a  manner  ceafe  to  be 
affected  in  their  Pafiions  by  Objects. 


Prop  hyl axis* 


§.  1050, 


Hi 


$r"2£  3ur*^  sjt*^  sf-"^  •      ^""3*  58f"5£  ^f"^  sr"*^ 

^rr-^^TT\  yrr^a^TTi  /tn^ ^tts^ /rfSw^TTt  /ns*^i\    *nSi^T r\  siTs^^rrt  *tts*«»*'tt\  /tt^^tt^  ^r^^^^f^ 

Prophylaxis,  or  the  Prevention  of 
Dijiempers. 

§.  1049.  J  "DISEASES  are  prevented  by 
JL/  immediately   oppofing  their 
Caufes,  upon  the  very  firft  Appearance  of  their 
approaching  Signs, 

§.  1050.  But  the  chief  preventative  Reme- 
dies  againft  Difeafes  about  to  approach  in  a 
fhort  time,  are  the  following ;  Abftinence  \ 
Reft,  the  drinking  of  warm  Water,  and  then 
having  recourfe  to  moderate  Exercife  conti- 
nued for  fome  time,  till  one  perceives  the  fiHi 
Appearance  of  an  incipient  Sweat,  taking  af- 
terwards a  good  long  Sleep  with  the  Body 
well  covered  ;  for  by  this  means  the  grofs  Hu- 
mours are  dilated,  the  VefTels  are  relaxed,  and 
the  morbific  or  offending  Matter  is  difcharged* 

1  Not  an  Abftinence  entirely  from  Food,  but 
only  from  that  which  much  alters  the  Body^  or 
which  is  hard,  acrid,  or  difficult  to  digeft.  Ab- 
ftinence, moderate  Exercife,  and  diluent  Liquors 
drank  plentifully  have  frequently  prevented  the 
moft  grievous  internal  Difeafes,  which  could  noc 
have  been  afterwards  cured.  Watery  Liquors 
felax  the  VefTels  and  dilute  the  offending  Matter  ; 
moderate  Exercife  continued  to  the  Appearance  of 

S  afligh$ 


2  $8   Prevention  of  Difeafes.  § ,  1  o  5  2 . 

a  (light  Sweat,  attenuates  and  expels  it,  and  the 
fleeping  afterwards  refrcfhes  and  recruits  all  the 
Powers.  This  Method  is  convenient  whenever  we 
find  ourfelves  heavy  and  inclined  to  be  indifpofed; 
from  whence  we  may  infer,  that  the  Sanclorian 
Perforation  is  impeded.  But  be  not  too  hafty  to 
vomit  or  open  a  Vein  by  way  of  Precaution,  for 
you  know  not  what  you  are  about ;  thefe  may 
oifturb  or  expel  the  Matter  before  it  is  concocled, 
whence  Nature  will  be  diforder'd  and  weaken'd. 

§.  1 05 1.  Nor  is  there  any  thing  more  ca- 
pable of  defending  the  Body  againft  the  Vio- 
lence of  external  Caufes,  than  for  a  Perfon  to 
gradually  leffen  his  Winter  apparel 1  as  the 
Spring  advances ;  and  again  to  timely  increafe 
the  Summer  Cloathing  in  Autumn* 

1  Sydenham  obferves,  that  among  a  hundred 
People  who  are  invaded  with  autumnal  Difeafes, 
asPJeurifies,  Peripneumonies,  Catarrhs,  He.  there 
are  very  few  of  them  who  owe  not  their  Diforder 
to  fome  Alteration  in  their  Cloaths,  by  which  they 
are  too  much  expofed  to  the  Cold  ;  but  are  never 
diforder'd  from  keeping  themfelves  too  warm  ;  of 
which  Horace  was  aware,  when  he  tells  us, 

Matuiina  par  urn  cantos  nunc  f rigor  a  mordent. 

§.  1052.  To  the  fame  End  alfo  will  a  mo* 
derate  1  Diet,  defcribed  in  the  few  foregoing 
fimple  Rules,  very  much  conduce  :  In  Sum- 
mer-time the  Diet  ought  to  be  light,  foft,  lax- 
ative %  moift,  and  compofed  moftly  of  mild 
Sallads,  or  Pot-herbs,  ripe  Fruits,  Milk,  and 

Broths, 


§ .  1052.  Prevetttion  of  Difeafes.  259 

Broths,  with  Plenty  of  watery  or  very  thin 
Drinks,  aflifted  with  gentle  Exercife  of  Body, 
avoiding  all  the  more  violent  Exercifes. 

In  Winter  1  the  Diet  ought  to  be  more 
compact  and  heavy,  hard  arid  dry,  higher 
feafoned  with  Spices  or  Salt ;  Meats  roafted 
and  the  Bread  more  thoroughly  baked,  and 
accompanied  with  longer  and  more  robuft 
Exercifes  of  Body. 

In  Spring  and  Autumn  the  Diet  mould  be 
at  a  Medium,  betwixt  that  of  Summer  and 
Winter,  making  a  proportionable  Allowance 
as  the  Weather  inclines  more  to  one  Seafon 
or  the  other. 

■  No  Food  ought  to  be  allowed  which  is  eafily 
inclined  to  Putrefaction  but  the  Drink  fhould 
be  plentiful,  and  chiefly  a  Mixture  of  Wine  and 
Water ;  but  in  Winter  the  Drink  Ihould  be 
ftronger  and  more  fparingly  ufed. 

2  Provident  Nature  feems  to  have  prefcribed  us 
this  Diet,  fince  in  Summer-time  Flefh- meats 
putrefy  much  iooner,  that  they  might  not  be  fo 
frequently  ufed  j  but  at  the  fame  time  we  are 
plentifully  fupplied  with  Garden  -fruits  furnifhed 
by  Nature,  with  watery  and  a 'id  Juices  to  allay 
the  Heat  and  refill  Putrefaction,  to  which  the 
Seafon  greatly  inclines. 

3  Thefe  Rules  are  given  by  Hippocrates,  and  by 
Diodes  in  his  Epiftle  to  Antigonus* 


^T^^TK  *Tr^^TT\  ^^.^^TTS  *TT^^-TT\  *TTS^^^T\  ^TT^mm^fS     Ar^^XU  iTT^^m  AT^^Tfi  STT^^XtI  AV^^T* 

Diet  for  LONGEVITY. 

§•  1  °53 •  A  j?ealthy  human  Body  is  gradu- 
Ji\^  ally  fo  chang'd  by  the  Actions 
irreparable  from  Life  and  Health,  that  the 
fmalleft  Fibres  become  rigid  1  and  immove- 
able, and  the  mimiteji  i  Veffels  grow  together 
into  folid  Fibres,  no  longer  pervious  to  the 
Humours,  while  at  the  fame  time  the  larger 
Veffels  become  hardened,  ccntraffed1  fmaller, 
and  all  Parts  fhrink  together,  become  more 
compact,  grow  to  each  other,  and  thereby  oc- 
cafion  the  Drinefs,  Wafting  4,  Immobility  and 
Infenfibility  remarkable  in  old  People.  By 
thefe  Means  the  Offices  of  the  fmalleft  Veffels 
are  deftroyed,  the  Humours  ftagnate  and 
thicken  in  them,  concrete  together,  and  with 
the  Sides  of  their  own  containing  Veffels  \ 
whence  the  Body  is  deprived  of  its  molt  fubtle 
Juices,  the  concocting  Powers  are  weaken 'd, 
the  Wafting  of  the  Body  ceafes  to  be  repaired, 
and  the  groffer  Humours  only  continue  to  flow 
flowly  through  the  larger  Veffels  ;  whence  Life 
is  in  a  manner  barely  fupported  alone,  without 
the  animal  Aftiom  5 ;  till  at  length  from  thefe 
Changes,  eonfequent  of  Health  itfelf,  Death 
from  a  mere  old  Age  becomes  inevitable. 

The 


§.  1054*  Diet  for  Lc7igevity,  261 

1  The  Body  of  the  molt  healthy  Perfon  becomes 
gradually  more  rigid  and  indifpofed  for  Motion, 
as  Age  advances. 

2  In  new-born  Infants  no  Humour  is  more  abun- 
dant than  that  of  the  Nerves,  nor  is  any  Humour 
more  deficient  in  old  People  ;  but  in  thefe  laft  the 
Veins  appear  turgid  to  the  Eye,  from  the  Abun- 
dance of  the  groffer  Humours  in  the  larger  Vef- 
fels. 

3  In  old  People  the  Skin  becomes  wrinkled  and 
contracted  over  the  flefhy  Parts,  their  Bodies  fall 
away,  and  they  become  thin  or  flender,  which  is 
the  Marafrnus  or  wafting  of  old  Age. 

4  They  who  are  very  tall  in  their  Youth,  be- 
come much  fhorter  with  old  Age,  and  incline  for- 
ward, as  Hippocrates  obferved  of  old.  A  Perfon 
of  eighty  Years  old,  lofes  near  one  third  Part  of 
the  Height  which  he  had  before  lie  was  panned  the 
fiftieth  Year.  The  Caufe  of  this  contracting  pro- 
ceeds fro  m  the  Reduction  of  the  Spaces  betwixt 
the  Ve/cebras  of  the  Spine,  from  a  fhrinking  of 
the  Cartilages,  whence  the  Vertebrae  either  im- 
mediately grow  together,  or  the  whole  Spine  is 
incurvated. 

5  For  thefe  Actions  are  performed  by  the  fmalleft 
VefTels,  which  are  the  firfl:  that  grow  hard  and 
clofe  up,  and  from  hence  arofe  thofe  Complaints 
made  by  Barzillai,  when  invited  by  David  to  the 
Regal  Feaft.  The  Dulnefs  or  Weaknefs  of  all 
the  Senfes  in  old  People,  efpecially  of  the  Eyes 
and  Ears,  is  fufficiently  apparent  to  every  one  who 
will  take  it  into  Confideration. 

§.  1054.  This  Change  therefore  happens 
fooner,  if  the  Actions  of  Life  and  Health  have 
been  violent  %  but  later  if  they  have  been 
S  3  mode- 


262     Diet  for  Longevity.    §.  1055, 

moderate.  So  that  a  juft  Moderation  in  this 
refpedt,  leems  to  promife  the  greateft  Longe- 
vity poffible,  more  efpecially  if  the  Art  of 
preserving  Health,  and  preventing  Diieafes, 
concur  with  their  feveral  Means  or  Effedts  not 
to  interrupt  this  End,  the  Sum  of  which  here 
follows. 

1  Violent  Exercife  in  the  Time  of  Youth,  wears 
out  the  Body  and  brings  on  old  Age  before  its 
time,  and  therefore  it  gives  me  Pain  to  fee  Parents 
oblige  their  Children  to  work  before  they  are  ca- 
pable. But  too  little  Exercife  accumulates  crude 
Humours  in  the  Vefiels,  fo  that  the  Body  is  over- 
filled with  Juices,  not  having  their  due  Motion  or 
Circulation.  A  proper  Medium  is  therefore  to  be 
obferved  to  exercife  the  Body  furhciently,  to  pre- 
vent any  Crudities  from  gathering  ;  but  not  to 
work  it  fo  far  as  to  di  ill  pate  thole  which  are  al- 
ready perfect  or  concocted.  That  we  keep  up  to 
the  Mediocrity  may  be  known,  if  our  Bodies 
continue  for  feveral  Years  of  the  lame  Weight  ; 
for  if  the  Weight  increafes,  the  Exercife  is  not 
fufficient,  and  if  the  Weight  decreafes,  the  Exer- 
cife is  too  great. 

§  1055.  The  Body  ought  to  be  qualified 
according  to  the  feveral  Circumftances  (men- 
tioned before  at  §.  [  8  5.)  as  far  as  they  can  be 
given  it  by  any  Art.  The  Actions  of  the  Body 
ought  alfo  to  confpire  fo  as  to  reftore  what  is 
loft,  aflimilate  the  Aliments  which  are  taken 
in  \  procure  the  Body  to  grow  to  its  due  Li- 
mits ;  with  a  conftant  or  regular,  eafy  and 
flow,  Expulfion1  of  the  Fasces ;  for  which 

Purpofe 


§.  10^6.    Diet  for  Longevity.  263 

Purpofe  therefore  moderate  Exercife  or  Labour 
constantly  ufed,  till  a  flight  Wearinefs  is  per- 
ceived, will  be  highly  ufeful.  In  Childhood, 
this  Exercife  mould  be  more  gentle  and  gra- 
dually increafed,  as  the  Body  acquires  more 
Strength  J,  and  again  decreafed,  as  old  Age 
advances.  In  the  mean  time,  Life  ought  to 
be  rendered  agreeable  by  Variety  of  different 
Obje&s  and  Employments  of  the  Mind,  efpe- 
cially  in  Agriculture. 

1  No  more  Nourifhment  ought  to  be  retained, 
than  is  confumed  or  wafted  by  the  daily  A&ions 
of  Life. 

1  There  is  no  occafion  here  for  Purges  •,  for 
there  are  many  of  eighty  Years  of  Age  who  ne- 
ver ufed  a  Purge  in  their  Lives  for  the  Benefit  of 
difcharging  the  inteftinal  Fieces ;  but  if  there  is 
found  a  NeceiTity  of  keeping  the  Bowels  lax,  that 
may  be  procured  by  increafing  the  Drink,  and 
lefTening  the  Proportion  of  folid  Aliment,  or  by 
omitting  a  Dinner,  or  by  a  little  increafing  the 
Exercife  before  Meals,  which  is  the  natural  way 
of  purging. 

3  Thus  may  the  Body  be  preferved  ftrong  to 
the  Age  of  fifty  •,  when  it  will  be  neceffary  to 
diminifh  the  Exercife,  unlefs  you  would  exhauft 
your  Strength,  as  I  remember  to  have  feen  in  one 
of  my  very  good  Friends.  An  old  Perfcn  ought 
to  forget  all  Cares,  and  enjoy  himfelf  in  innocent 
Recreations,  and  the  moft  gentle  Exercifes  of 
Body. 

§.  1056.  Thofe  Employments  of  Mind 
fhould  be  chofe  which  are  moft  fuitable  to 
every  one's  particular  Genius x,  or  natural  ln- 

S  4  clinationj 


'264    Diet  for  Longevity.    §.  1056. 

clination  ;  and  thefe  are  to  be  governed  or  mo- 
derated fo,  as  neither  to  exhauft  nor  diffipate 
the  Spirits  by  too  much  Motion,  nor  to  let 
them  be  dull  by  too  much  Reft.  In  Child- 
hood \  fharp  Contentions  and  intenfe  Study, 
are  to  be  retrained,  and  the  Mind  to  be  gra- 
dually more  exercifed  as  Age  advances  3  and 

,  in  old  Age  again,  to  be  gradually  more  and 
more  moderated*  frequently  varying  ■  the 
Occupations  or  Employments  of  it,  by  diver- 
sifying the  Object. 

1  There  are  fome  who  feem  to  be,  in  a  man- 
ner, revived  or  animated  with  new  Life,  when, 
upon  leaving  fome  difagreeable  Study  to  which 
they  are  compelled,  they  apply  themfelves  to 
another  more  agreeable  and  better  adapted  to  their 
Inclination.  ^ 

*  I  remember  a  Boy  fo  fkilled  in  every  Science, 
that  he  was  a  Monfter  of  Learning ;  but  then 
his  Life  extended  no  farther  than  the  fifteenth 
Year :  And  [  likewife  faw  a  very  learned  Youth 
who  ftudied  Day  and  Night,  but  then  he  died  in 
the  nineteenth  Year  of  his  Age,  emaciated  with- 
out any  Difeafe,  but  what  came  from  too  great  a 
Wafte  of  the  Spirits. 

3  To  be  always  poring  over  the  fame  Object, 
dulls  the  Intellects  and  tires  the  Mind,  which  is 
£elightecj  and  improved  by  a  Variety  :  and  there- 
fore it  ought,  at  times,  to  be  relaxed  from  the 
more  fevere  mathematical  Contemplations,  and  to 
be  employed  upon  fomething  more  light  and  agree- 
able, as  Poetry,  Phyfic,  Hiftory,  &c.  for  as  the 
incomparable  Lord  Bacon  tells  us,  the  Spirits  oug^it 
not  to  be  allowed  by  Reft  to  ftagnate  or  concrete, 

or 


§>  1058.    Diet  for  Longevity.  265 

nor  yet  to  be  difilpated;  nor  laftly,  todiflblveor 
prey  upon  the  VelTels. 

§.  1057.  Simple  Aliments  which  are  dry, 
hard,  firm,  end  neither  acrid  nor  inclined  to 
Putrefaction,  as  of  the  vegetable  Kind,  Bread, 
Roots,  and  Fruits  not  over-ripe,  but  a  little 
auftere  ;  from  Animals,  lean  or  faked  Flefh, 
or  Fifh  fo  prepared,  are  moft  wholefome  5  far 
People  in  Years  who  defireto  live  long.  But 
in  Childhoodz,  Milk  and  Bread  gradually  in- 
creafed,  proce  eding  thence  to  the  more  firm 
Aliments  as  Age  advances  is  the  beft  ;  but  in 
old  Age  again,  the  Diet  is  to  be  reduced  to 
that  or.  Children. 

1  This  has  been  taught  by  nobody  fo  well,  as 
by  the  Example  of  Atofius  Ccrnaro. 

z  Children  are  born  without  Teeth  that  they 
might  not  injure  the  Nipples  afterwards  the  Teeth 
appear  through  the  Gums,  but  are  fo  foft  and  in- 
firm, that  they  cannot  be  fafely  trufted  to  eat  any 
thing  but  Bread,  to  which  they  may  be  brought 
by  Degrees.  But  after  a  few  Years  thefe  Teeth 
all  fall  out,  and  others  ftronger  grow  up  in  their 
Stead  ;  but  the  laft  and  ftrongeft  Teech  of  all 
come  out  when  they  are  near  of  Age  fo  that  at 
about  twenty-five  Years  of  Age,  a  Ferfon  may  be 
able  to  chew  the  hardeft  and  toughed  Aliments. 

§.  1058.  The  drinking  of  pure  and  cold 
Water  in  Moderation,  fufficient  only  to  allay 
the  Third:,  and  dilute  agreeable  to  the  Confti- 
tution,  is  moft  to  be  approved  from  the  In- 
ftances  of  its  Effefts.   Pure  and  foft  Ale,  and 

Wine 


266     Diet  for  Longevity.    §.  1059. 

Wines  which  are  come  to  Maturity,  may  be 
ufed  alfo  in  Moderation,  but  too  much  of 
them  are  highly  pernicious.  In  Childhood, 
Milk  may  be  allowed,  gradually  more  diluted, 
and  at  length,  Water  in  robujl1  Age;  but  in 
old  Age  when  the  Teeth  2  are  wanting,  foft 
Wine  will  be  convenient. 

*  Alexander  owed  his  untimely  Death  in  the 
Flower  of  his  Age,  not  to  Mars,  but  to  his  Con- 
tentions with  Bacchus,  making  a  too  free  Ufe  of 
Wine. 

2  But  this  Wine  ought  neither  to  be  fharp,  or 
acrid,  nor  ftrong,  though  thefe  are  the  Qualities 
for  which  Wines  are  ufually  praifed  for  the  Bodies 
of  old  People  are  fufficiently  dried  up  from  other 
Caufes,  and  therefore  they  rather  require  moiften- 
ing :  Therefore  it  was  wife  in  Socrates  to  order 
the  Butler  to  pour  him  out  but  a  little,  and  as 
often  as  he  pleafed  for  Showers  are  deftructive, 
when  Dews  refrefh. 

§.  1059.  In  the  mean  time  rigid  Abjlinencex% 
and  the  mod  thin  or  fpare,  drying  and  ema- 
ciating Diet,  now  and  then  interpofed,  is  of 
wonderful  Advantage. 

1  When  the  venereal  Difeafe  firfl  invaded  the 
Spaniards  and  Italians,  before  the  Efficacy  of  Mer- 
cury was  known,  they  made  ufe  of  drying  and 
fudorific  Medicines,  with  a  low  Diet,  chiefly  of 
Raifins  and  Bifket,  with  plentiful  drinking  a  De* 
coction  of  the  Woods  by  this  means  they  warned 
out  almoft  entirely  the  Fat  from  the  whole  Habit, 
which  is  the  principal  Seat  of  the  Diforder.  The 
very  fame  Effects  we  now  procure  by  the  Ufe  of 

Mercury, 


§.  1060.    Diet  for  Longevity.  267 

Mercury,  given  with  Difcretion,  fo  as  to  raife  a 
Salivation  •,  after  the  Uie  of  which  tbe  whole 
Body,  in  a  manner,  feems  to  grow  young  again. 
A  melancholy  Man  of  a  noble  Family,  ftrongly 
perluaded  himfelf,  that  the  Effects  of  his  juvenile 
Faults  had  overtaken  him  in  his  old  Age,  and 
would  not  be  perfuaded  from  undergoing  a  Sali- 
vation \  to  which  the  Phyficians  confented  for  the 
Cure  of  his  imaginary  Lues,  by  which  Means, 
though  he  did  not  come  of  a  long  liv'd  Family, 
he  recovered  a  perfect  State  of  Health,  and  fur- 
vived  to  eighty  Years  of  Age  :  For  by  this  Me- 
dicine all  the  Humours  are  attenuated,  and  their 
vicious  Parts  difcharged  from  the  Body,  their  Place 
being  fupplied  with  better  Humours  from  laudable 
Aliments ;  whereas,  when  too  great  Quantities  of 
Food  are  constantly  taken  into  the  Body  of  a  Perfon, 
whofe  vital  Powers  are  muchexhaufted,  then  worfe 
Humours  are  generated,  inftead  of  thofe  which  are 
confumed  or  expelled.  Lord  Bacon  obferves,  that 
evacuating  Medicines  conduce  to  long  Life  ;  but 
then  the  Vifcera  ought  to  be  ftrong  enough  to 
make  more  healthy  Humours  from  the  ingefted 
Aliments.  Jt  is  altogether  imprudent  to  purge 
'thofe  People,  whofe  Humours  appear  to  be  dif- 
charged either  healthy  or  difeafed,  and  their  Powers 
not  fufficient  to  reftore  them  ;  for  with  bad  Hu- 
mours they  may  be  capable  of  living,  which  they 
cannot  without  any. 

§.  1060.  Asold  Age  advances,  Nourifhment 
may  be  introduced  into  the  Parts  by  external 
Application  in  the  Form  of  Vapours,  Baths, 
Fomentations' :,  Clyfters,  and  Unguents2.  The 
Air  muft  be  pure,  mountainous  \  or  coming 
from  a  plain  dry  Country,  from  the  Fields, 

Jkady 


268     Diet  for  Longevity*    §.  1060. 

Jhady  Woods* ',  and  inland  Places;  and  efpeci- 
ally  a  cold  Air  off  Iflands,  is  reputed  the  beft 
and  mod  healthy. 

1  Of  this  we  have  an  Inftance  in  David,  who 
having  loft  all  his  Strength  by  old  Age,  fo  that 
he  could  not  keep  himfelf  warm  by  any  Means, 
was  perfuaded  by  his  Phyficians  to  take  a  healthy 
and  beautiful  Virgin  as  a  Concubine,  by  whole 
Warmth  and  Contact  he  might  be  recruited,  which 
Counfel  feems  to  have  anfwered  Expectation. 
They  might,  indeed,  have  made  him  warm  enough, 
by  culinary  Fire,  but  by  this  Means  the  healthy 
Vapours  of  the  healthy  Virgin  were  applied  to, 
and  drank  in,  by  his  wafting  Body,  without  en- 
dangering a  greater  Wafte,  as  muft  have  followed  J 
from  common  Fire.  Sydenham  obferves,  that  he 
has  feen  the  molt  excruciating  cholicky  Pains  re- 
lieved, barely,  by  the  Application  of  living  Pup-? 
pies  upon  the  naked  Abdomen  of  the  Patient ;  for 
by  this  Means,  the  moft  volatile  exhaling  Vapours 
pafs  from  the  Body  of  the  healthy  Animal,  into  a 
that  of  the  difeafed  Patient ;  and  thefe  Vapours 
are  abforbed  moft  during  the  time  of  Sleep,  when 
the  Pores  are  moft  open  and  relaxed. 

*  When  the  Oils  of  Jafmin,  Lignum  Rhodium, 
Rofes,  and  the  like,  are  placed  under  the  Noftrils 
of  the  Patient,  their  exhaling  Vapours  greatly 
refrelh  and  renew  the  decayed  Functions  of  the 
Brain.  Hitherto  alfo  may  be  referred  the  ancient 
Story  of  Democritus,  whofe  Sifter  kept  him  alive 
three  Days  only  by  the  Vapours  of  warm  Bread, 
that  he  might  not  die  in  the  time  of  their  folem- 
nizing  certain  Rites  or  Ceremonies. 

3  David  promifes  a  Habitation  to  the  Juft  in 
the  Mountain  of  the  I  ,ord  ;  whence  Helmont  con- 
cludes, that  they  muft  be  long  livers  in  the  higheft 

Mountain, 


§.  1062.    Diet  for  Longevity.  269 

Mountain,  which  the  Eaftern  Inhabitants  might 
call  the  Mount  of  God.  Certain  it  is,  that  a 
Dutchman  has  built  himfelf  a  Houfe  upon  a  very- 
high  Mountain  in  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  where 
he  has  lived  Time  out  of  Mind  in  a  healthy  old 
Age  beyond  the  Memory  of  any  of  the  Colony. 
But  the  Air  of  open  Fields  and  Countries  is  alfo 
recommended,  as  being  freely  agitated  by  the 
Winds. 

4  People  living  in  the  barren  Woods,  and  naked 
Mountains  of  Germany,  upon  a  very  coarfe  Diet, 
furvive  often  to  the  Age  of  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

§.  1 06 1.  The  Excretion  1  of  the  more  grofs 
Humours  in  old  People  is  to  be  promoted  by 
the  mod  innocent  and  fafe  Remedies,  which 
excite  the  Fibres  to  Motion,  and  diflblve  the 
feculent  Juices ;  among  which,  Saffron,  Salts, 
aromatick  Gums,  Honey,  and  foft  Wines,  are 
the  beft. 

1  Such,  namely,  ought  to  be  ufed  as  will  eva- 
cuate the  grofs  excrementitious  Parts  of  the  Hu- 
mours without  impairing  the  Strength  ;  for  the 
natural  excretory  Powers  are  to  be  itrsngthened, 
and  not  infringed. 

§.  1062.  An  almoft  radical  Change  of  the 
Humours  by  Refolvents,  and  a  Difcharge  of 
them  afterwards,  as  by  the  received  Methods 
of  Cure  with  Mercury,  or  attenuating,  dry- 
ing, and  fudorific  Decodtions,  often  difpofe 
the  Body  in  the  beft  manner  to  expel  the  old 
Humours,  and  acquire  frefh  Supplies  of  newx, 
vital  Matter  \  whence  thefe  Means  prudently 


270     Diet  for  Longevity.    §.  1063. 

and  artfully  ufed,  may  conduce  to  Longe- 
vity. 

x  When  a  large  robufl:  Man,  whofe  Body  weighs 
above  an  hundred  Pounds,  has  had  all  the  Fat 
confumed  by  mercurial  Salivation,  he  will  after- 
wards in  a  few  Weeks  time  by  Milk  Diet,  gra- 
dually recover  his  Strength  and  Corpulency,  and 
his  Body  will  be  effectually  prepared  for  Longe* 
vity. 

§.  1063.  Vapours,  Fomentations,  Undlions, 
Bathings  of  fweet  fmelling  and  pleafant  In- 
gredients, with  Milk  \  Flefh  Broths,  Oil,  and 
of  living  Animals a,  are  excellent  Remedies 
to  put  off  Death  5  and  the  Drinefs  of  old  Age, 
and  to  prolong  Life,  though  they  are  hurtful 
to  Youth/ 

x  Frederic  Hoffman  demonftrates,  that  from  aci- 
dulated Liquors  by  a  gentle  Heat,  there  exhales  a 
limpid  Water  with  little  or  no  Smell,  Tafte,  or 
Colour,  but  having  all  the  Powers  of  a  medicinal 
Water  concentrated  in  itfelf,  and  is  therefore  fo 
efficacious  for  increafing  the  Strength  and  Spirits, 
that  nothing  can  furpafs  it ;  and  fuch  a  kind  of 
pleafant,  mild  and  reftorative  Faculty  is  there  in 
Milk. 

a  Some  of  the  Tyrants  of  the  barbarous  Nations 
have  often  prolonged  their  Lives,  and  cured  therr> 
felves  of  a  Leprofy  by  ufing  warm  Baths  of  Blood 
taken  from  the  moft  healthy  young  People;  but  a 
milder  Remedy  of  the  fame  Nature,  may  be  had 
from  human  Milk  lately  extracted. 

3  After  the  fiftieth  Year  the  Body  begins  to 
decline,  and  therefore  one  mould  be  cautious  not 


§.  1065.    Diet  for  Longevity.  271 

to  confume  old  Age  in  Youth,  by  drinking  of 
fpirituous  Liquors,   Bleeding,  for  of  fifty 

People  who  haveabufed  ipirituous  Liquors,  there 
is  hardly  one  who  efcapes  his  fiftieth  Year. 

§.  1064.  From  what  has  beenfaid  (§.  1053, 
to  1064.)  it  is  evident  that  thofe  things  which 
render  the  Body  large,  hardy,  ftrong  and  dur- 
able of  Age,  not  liable  to  violent  Diftempers, 
generally  dull  the  Intellects  and  obftrudt  the 
Brifknefs  of  the  Mind's  A&ion  through  the 
Grojfnefs  1  of  the  Organs.  Nor  are  the  Helps 
by  which  the  Caufes  of  the  moft  perfect  a 
Health  are  generated  or  afiifted,  the  Means 
to  procure  long  Life. 

1  They  who  are  follicitous  only  about  the  En- 
tertainment of  their  Bodies  have  dull  Intellects; 
and  they  who  areover-ftudious  have  infirm  Bodies; 
but  fuch  violent  Exercife  of  Body  and  Mind,  can- 
not fufFer  the  Machine  to  laft  long ;  the  Truth  of 
which  appears  from  the  Hiftory  of  Jong  Livers. 

2  For  the  extreme  Mobility  which  is  required 
for  the  moft  perfect  Health,  too  foon  deftroys  the 
Body. 

§.  1065.  What  is  moft  firmly  promifed 
and  recommended  by  fome  to  prolong  Life, 
.  are  therefore  vain  and  empty  Boaftings,  with- 
out any  true  Support,  either  from  Reafon  or 
Experience :  fuch  are  the  Ufe  of  Helmont's 
firft  Ens  or  Effence  of  Cedar  \  Elixir  Pro- 
p?~ietatisx  of  Paracelfus,  the  highly  praifed 
Tincture  or  Elixir  of  %the  Adepts ;  the  firft 
Effence  of  Metals  \  Minerals,  Animals  and 

Vege- 


%j2     Diet  for  Longevity*    § .  1065* 

Vegetables;  repeated  Purging  with  black  Hel- 
lebore 4,  Spirit  of  Sulphur  by  the  Bell,  Spirit 
of  Rofemary-flowers ;  Magnets  drawing  the 
Spirits  out  of  healthy  yowig  People  5  according 
to  Artephius ;  the  feeding  upon  long-lived 
Animals 6,  or  fach  2s  frequently  renew  their 
Parts;  or  laftly,  the  wearing  of  Sigils 7  adapted 
to  the  Planets  productive  of  Life  $  all  which 
are  equally  vain  and  ftupid. 

1  The  Adepts  in  Alchymy  have  wrote  much  upon 
Longevity,  and  have  laid  down  their  Opinions  in 
iuch  a  manner,  that  they  cannot  be  eafily  refut- 
ed by  one  who  is  not  verfed  in  Chemiftry.  They 
teli  us,  that  a  firft  Ens  can  be  extracted  from 
Vegetables,  Animals,  and  Minerals,  of  which  the 
two  former  are  lefs  valuable.  But  the  ElTence  or 
Spiritus  Rector  of  the  very  old  Cyprus,  which  is 
called  the  Cedar  of  Libation,  is  highly  recom- 
mended for  Longevity  ;  for  this  Tree  neither  rots 
nor  decays  by  the  Worm,  growing  to  fuch  a  Mag- 
nitude, that  in  the  Sbeldonian  Garden  at  Oxford, 
there  is  one  which  grows  conftantly,  and  covers 
above  fifty  Paces  with  its  Branches.  Belmont  ima- 
gines this  is  the  only  Tree  we  have  remaining 
among  thofe  that  were  in  Paradife,  without  any- 
new  ones  of  the  fame  kind  fince  propagated  ;  but 
this  is  an  Error  or  Falfity,  for  it  is  propagated 
from  the  Seeds  fown.  Of  this  Wood  was  made 
Noah's  Ark,  and  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant.  The 
primuni  Ens  of  this  Cedar  wood  extracted  by 
means  of  the  Alcahefc,  under  the  Appearance  of 
a  milky  Liquor,  will  then,  according  to  their 
Accounts,  make  the  human  Body  as  long-lived  as 
the  Cedar  itfelf  is  among  Trees.  But  this  Lon- 
gevity of  the  Cedar  is  a  Faculty  placed  in  the 

Sse4 


§.  1065.   ^>iet  for  Longevity.  273 

Seed  thereof  by  the  Creator,  and  neither  refides 
in  the  juice  nor  in  the  Spirit  of  that  Wood  ;  but 
we  do  not  make  Cedar,  but  receive  it  ready  mad1? 
to  our  Hands,  nor  are  we  capable  of  taking  from 
it  the  Properties  eflential  to  its  Nature,  and  re- 
ading both  in  its  folid  and  fluid  Parts. 

4  So  called ,  as  having  the  Property  of  prolong- 
ing Life.  With  this  Medicine  Paracelfus  pro- 
mifed  himfelf  he  mould  live  to  the  Age  of  Metbu- 
falem^  that  even  then  it  would  be  at  his  Choice 
whether  he  would  continue  any  longer  among  the 
living.  But  we  do  not  fee  that  any  of  thefe 
Adepti  were  Jong  livers ;  and  Paracelfus  himfelf 
died  in  his  forty-feventh  Year,  and  Helmont  in  his 
fixty-feventh,  which  are  Ages  commonly  arrived 
at  by  People  even  who  drink  freely  only  Lully 
furpaffed  his  eightieth  Year,  when  he  is  faid  to 
have  been  killed  by  the  Barbarians  for  preaching 
the  Chriftian  Religion. 

3  The  Chemifts  tell  us,  that  the  Caufe  which 
renders  Gold  the  mod  fimpleandpermanentamong 
Bodies,  and  capable  of  being  corroded  but  by  a 
few,  may  be  called  its  primum  Ens  or  the  Spiritus 
Rector  of  the  Gold.  This  concentrated  Caufe  of 
Fixity  they  endeavour  to  extract  by  a  Diffblution 
of  the  Gold,  and  then  apply  it  to  the  human  Body, 
to  infpire  our  elementary  and conftituent Parts  with 
the  fame  permanent  or  fixed  Nature  as  is  pof- 
fefTed  by  the  Gold  itfelf,  endeavouring  by  that 
means  to  render  the  Body  immortal,  or  at  leaft 
extremely  long-lived  ;  and  from  hence  their  high 
Praifes  of  Aurum  potabile.  The.  Caufe  of  their 
Error  lies  in  placing  the  EfTence  or  Form  of  Bo- 
dies in  their  Juices  only  whereas  the  Caufe  of 
Firmnefs  in  Gold  confifts  in  the  particular  Con- 
ftruclion  orConne&ion  of  the  folid  Elementswhich 
compofe  that  Metal.  Nor  is  their Counfel  in  this 
T  refpect 


274      D*e*  for  Longevity.  §.  1065. 

refpect  at  all  wifer  than  that  which  directs 
one  to  eat  Hares  Flelh  that  he  may  be  a  fwift 
Runner. 

4  This  Plant  is  by  Paracelfus  called  Daura,  as 
recovering  Youth,  and  difpofing  the  Body  to 
Longevity,  by  purging  out  every  thing  injurious. 
But  here  Helmont  prudently  oppofes  the  Chemifts, 
by  obferving  that  when  the  Body  is  thus  exhaufted 
they  ought  to  know  how  to  fill  it  again  with  lau- 
dable healthy  Humours.  Thus  indeed  Medea 
JEfones  had  Youth  reftored  by  difcharging  the  old 
Humours ;  but  Pelias,  who  was  left  to  himfelf 
exhaufted,  perifhed. 

5  Artephius  has  left  us  fome  fmall  Treatifes  of  the 
Philofopher's  Stone,  which  the  Chemifts  highly 
efteem  and  reverence  as  Oracles,  becaufe  they  are 
unintelligible.  They  tell  us  of  this  Man,  that  he 
.difcovered  a  Magnet  peculiar  to  human  Spirits,  fo 
that  he  could  by  this  means  draw  out  the  vital 
Spirits  from  a  healthy  young  Man,  who  in  Con- 
fequence  of  that  muft  die;  and  then  when  he  had 
by  this  means  furvived  to  a  great  old  Age,  being 
tired  of  Life,  he  included  this  moderately  volatile 
Tincture  in  a  veffel,  and  inclofed  it  with  himfelf 
in  a  Sepulchre,  where  he  would  fometimes  only 
draw  in  with  his  Noftrils  as  much  of  the  Tincture 
as  would  juft  fuffice  to  keep  him  alive,  by  which 
means  he  had  protracted  Life  for  above  a  thoufand 
Years  pad.  This  however  is  certain,  that  the 
Strength  of  a  healthy  Body  may  in  fome  Meafure 
be  communicated  to  one  that  is  weak  or  difeafed, 
fince  Girls  lying  with  old  Women  wafte  away, 
whereas  the  old  Women  improve,  and  have  better 
Health  and  Spirits. 

6  Such  as  the  Stag  is  believed  to  be  ';  but  the 
Flelh  of  thefe  Creatures  is  very  hard,  and  fo  diffi- 

5  Clllt 


§4  io66.  Diet  for  Longevity.  275 

cult  to  digeft,  that  one  may  reafonably  conclude 
it  rather  deftructive  than  conducive  to  Longevity. 

7  The  Adepts  tell  us,  that  the  Creator  has  fixed 
in  every  Being-  both  Malt  and  Female,  a  Seed 
for  its  Multiplication,  not  excepting  Metals 
themfelves  and  that  in  this  Seed  lies  concealed  a 
fmall  Spark,  which  animates  and  directs  the  Seed 
to  form  only  the  particular  kind  of  being  peculiar 
to  its  own  Species.  This  little  Spark  of  Life,  or 
Animation  afligned  by  Nature,  is  the  more  firm 
or  permanent  as  the  Life  of  the  Being  is  required 
to  be  more  conftant ;  and  therefore  every  thing 
which  is  produced  out  of  the  Seed,  is  to  be  af- 
figned  chiefly  to  the  Aura  or  animating  Spark 
thereof.  Hence  therefore  they  conclude,  that  the 
primum  Ens  is  to  be  feparated  by  the  Art  of  Che- 
miftry  by  the  fame  Medium  by  which  it  was  com- 
municated ;  as  for  example,  the  Spiritus  Rector 
of  Cinnamon  to  be  extracted  with  water,  by  which 
means  they  hoped  to  procure  a  Medicine  capable  of 
cosnmunicating  the  fame  Durability  to  the  human 
Body,  as  is  peculiar  to  the  Aura  of  the  Subftance 
from  whence  the  primum  Ens  was  prepared.  For 
my  own  Part,  I  believe  that  if  the  fame  Firmnefs 
could  be  communicated  to  the  human  Body  which, 
we  obferve  in  Gold,  it  would  become  indeed  infi- 
itely  durable,  but  at  the  fame  time;  like  Gold,  it 
ould  be  immoveable;  fo  that  they  would  make 
tatues  out  of  Machines. 

§.  1066.  Nor  is  it  at  all  probable  that  Life 
an  be  prolonged,  even  by  the  beft  Methods 
n  Nature  to  j'uch  1  a  Number  of  Years  as  the 
dept  Chemifts  propofe  ;  and  even  their  own 
Arguments  and  Experiments  are  the  ftrongeft 
roofs  of  their  Inabilities  in  this  refpedt. 

T  2  A  Per- 


276      Diet  for  Longevity.  §.  1066. 

1  A  perpetual  moving  Inftrument  will  laft  as 
long  as  the  Matter  of  which  it  is  made  will  allow, 
though  it  muft  infallibly  wear  away  itfelf  in  time 
by  Attrition.  But  fuch  is  the  Make  of  the  human 
Body,  that  it  repairs  itfelf  at  the  fame  time  and 
by  the  fame  Actions  by  which  it  is  wore  out ;  and 
this  is  an  Advantage  which  animal  Bodies  enjoy 
above  all  other  Machines.  But  even  the  human 
Body  itfelf  is  in  time  deftroyed  by  its  own  Actions, 
and  all  Bodies  with  which  we  are  acquainted  in  the 
Univerfe,  have  their  Beginning,  Perfection,  De- 
clination and  End ;  nor  is  it  in  the  Power  of  Art 
to  invert,  if  it  can  direct  the  Courfe  of  Nature. 
There  have  been  two  or  three  Inftances  of  Men 
furpaffing  their  hundred  and  fiftieth  Year  in  Eng- 
land^ nor  are  we  acquainted  at  our  time  of  Day 
with  Inftances  of  .People  attaining  a  greater  Age. 
In  Sumatra  and  Java,  we  are  told  that  there  are 
old  Men  of  130,  150,  and  200  Years  old  and 
Carulus  M.  Armiger,  who  is  called  Johannes  de 
Temporibus,  or  the  wandering  Jew%  is  faid  to  have 
lived  300  Years,  preferving  his  Body  by  the  Ufe 
of  Honey  internally,  and  of  Oil  externally.  But 
this  Account  favours  too  much  of  Fable  to  be  re- 
lied upon,  fince  we  can  have  no  living  Teftimony 
for  fuch  remote  Ages,  there  being  no  Companion 
cotemporary  with  fuch  an  old  Man  to  witnefs  for 
him-,  nor  was  it  without  great  Difficulty,  that 
King  Charles  II.  traced  back  the  Age  of  old  Parre 
for  150  Years  pail,  which  would,  not  probably 
have  been  discovered  after  ail,  if  his  Teftimony 
as  a  witnefs  had  not  been  regiftered  in  the  Ar- 
chives of  their  Courts  of  Judicature;  where  it  is 
known  from  the  Laws  .of  the  Kingdom,  that  no 
one  can  be  admitted  as  a  Witnefs  under  a  certain 
Age.  There  now  lives  a  Man  in  this  City  of 
Leyderiy  who  has  leen  the  Beginning  and  End 


§.  io68.    Of  Therapeutics.  277 

of  the  feventeenth  or  laft  Century,  being  always 
very  healthy ;  if  he  is  afked  by  what  means  he  has 
attained  to  fo  great  an  Age,  he  ufually  anfwers, 
by  a  Method  you  will  not  imitate,  Temperance 
and  Sobriety. 

Of  the  Therapeutic  or  Curative  Part 

of  P  H  Y  S  IC  K. 

§.  1067.  np HIS  fifth  and  laft  Part  of  our 
\  Medical  Infti'.utions  (§.  37.) 
explains  the  general  Precepts,  teaching  the 
Manner  in  which  the  Phyfician  ought  to 
behave  and  treat  his  Patient,  in  order  to  at- 
tain the  Ends  here  propofed  :  1.  to  preferve 
Life;  2.  to  remove  the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe  ; 

3.  to  take  away  the  Difeafe  itfelf ;  and  laftly  j 

4.  to  expel  the  prefent  Effects  or  Symptoms 
of  the  Difeafe. 

§.  1068.  To  accomplifh  thefe  four  Inten- 
tions x,  (§.  1067.)  an  artificial  Change  is  to 
be  produced  in  the  Body  of  the  Patient,  for 
which  Purpofe  Inftruments  or  Remedies  are 
required,  by  the  Efficacy  and  Application  of 
which,  the  Changes  necefifary  for  the  Attain- 
ment of  the  propofed  Ends  may  be  excited, 
whether  under  the  Denomination  of  Re- 
\   medies,  Medici?ies  %  or  Helps  of  any  kind. 

T  3  This 


278        Of  "Therapeutics.    §.  io6g. 

1  This  Part  of  Phyfick  contains  the  Rules  by 
which  the  prudent  Phyfician  ciifcovers  what  he  is 
to  do  to  preferve  Life,  weaken  or  deftroy  the 
Caufes  of  the  Difeafe,  and  remove  the  lame  to- 
gether with  its  Effects  or  Symptoms  :  and  in  this 
Part  of  Phyfic  the  Heads  of  an  Univerfity  defire, 
that  the  Candidate  for  a  Degree  in  Phyfic  may 
undergo  a  rigid  Examination 

z  Thefe  are  Inftruments  or  phyfical  Subftances, 
by  the  Application  of  which  to  the  Body,  an  Al- 
teration is  made  in  it  from  a  difeafed  to  a  healthy 
State. 

§,  1069.  But  thefe  Remedies  are  to  be  ap- 
plied 1  in  fuch  a  manner  to  every  particular 
Patient* \  as  to  produce  this  neceffary  Altera- 
tion (§.  1068.)  and  therefore  a  Phyfician 
ought  firft  to  know  what  Alteration  is  ne- 
ceffary to  be  made  in  the  Patient,  and  by  what 
Means  or  Remedies  he  is  to  bring  it  about ; 
and  confequen  ly  he  muff  be  acquainted  with 
the  Effects  following  from  the  Ufe  and  Ap- 
plication of  thofe  Remedies  in  the  Sick  Perfon; 
all  which  can  be  only  known  with  Certainty, 
from  the  Appearances  or  Symptoms  offered 
to  the  Senfes  in  the  Patient  %  or  by  juft  Rea- 
foning,  from  whence  he  may  perceive  the 
Action  or  Change  required  with  the  proper 
Means. 

1  The  Phyfician  ought  to  be  acquainted  with  the 
Change  neceffary  to  be  made,  and  the  Remedies 
by  which  the  Change  may  be  affected  •,  he 
ought  alfo  to  know  the  Effects  of  Medicines, 
for  he  can  attempt  nothing  without  a  previous 
Knowledge  of  what  may  be  expected  from  the 

particular 


§.  J 070.  Of "Therapeutics.  279 

particular  Method  of  treating  his  Patient,  for  the 
whole  Bufinefs  turns  here  upon  Futurity,  which 
much  increafes  the  Difficulty. 

2  Thefe  Signs  are  to  be  taken  from  the  Patient 
himfelf,  and  not  from  the  general  Principles  of 
Phyfic,  which  when  applied  to  particular  Cafes  are 
often  found  deceitful :  As  for  Iaftance,  fuppofe  a 
Cafe  which  indicates  a  Vomit,  if  the  Phyfician 
does  not  attend  to  the  particular  Habit  or  Antipa- 
thy of  the  Patient,  it  may  kill  him,  for  there  are 
ibme  who  are  always  thrown  into  Convulfions  by 
an  Emetic. 

§.  1070.  Whatever  is  thus  cifcovered  in  the 
Patient  lb  as  to  inftrudt  the  Mind  of  the  Phy- 
fician (§.  1069.)  is  called  Indicans  \  or  the 
•  Thing  that  indicates,  and  the  Knowledge  of 
this  arifing  in  the  Mind  of  the  Phyfician,  is 
called  the  Indication  %  as  that  which  is  by 
this  Knowledge  indicated  to  be  done,  is  called 
lndicatwn  \ 

1  This  is  any  phyfical  Condition  in  the  human 
Body,  either  pad,  prefent,  or  future,  from  whence 
one  may  learn  what  Method  is  necefiary  to  be 
taken  in  the  prefent  Cafe  at  that  Inftant  or  fome 
time  after. 

1  The  Indication  is  the  Knowledge  of  the  Thing 
indicating,  or  the  Knowledge  of  what  is  to  be 
done  at  prefent  or  hereafter,  agreeable  to  the  Things 
indicating. 

3  The  Indicatum  is  the  Thing  itfelf  now  re- 
quired to  be  done  or  ufed  agreeable  to  the  Rules 
of  Art,  derived  from  a  Knowledge  of  the  Indi- 
cation and  Things  indicating. 

T  4  §.  1071. 


280        Of  'Therapeutics.    §.  1073 


§.  1071.  The  Indicans  or  Thing  indicating 
(§.1070.)  is  therefore  all  that  can  be  known 
in  the  lick  Perfon  concerning  him  \  whether 
fajl  %  prefent,  or  to  come,  which  may  ferve 
to  give  the  leaft  Knowledge  of  what  ought 
to  be  done  by  a  Phyfician,  which  is  often  va- 
rious and  even  oppofite. 

1  Thefe  are  not  reftrained  to  the  Patient  alone, 
^s  the  Methodifts  have  prefumed  to  inform  us,  for 
the  Indication  is  derived  from  every  thing  which 
is  known  to  have  any  Influence  upon  the  Patient, 
fo  as  to  affect  him  more  or  lefs.  If  I  attend  a 
patient  fick  of  the  Small-pox,  and  know  from 
Aftronomy,  or  experimental  Philofophy,  that  the 
next  Day  will  be  extremely  hot,  I  ought  by  all 
means  from  fuchObfervation,  from  whatever  Quar- 
ter derived,  to  conclude  what  is  beft  to  be  done  to 
prevent  the  Mifchiefs  that  might  be  threatened  to 
the  Patient  from  luch  increafed  Heat  of  the  Air. 

*  As  for  Inftance,  if  I  know  a  Patient  has  drank 
plentifully  of  Brandy  or  other  fpirituous  Liquors, 
I  thence  know  what  is  beft  to  be  done  for  his  Re- 
covery. 

§.  1072.  Yet  all  this  (§.  1071.)  may  be  re- 
duced, 1.  to  the  remaining  Life  in  the  Patient, 
with  its  Caufes,  Nature,  Confequences,  and 
Degrees  -3  2.  to  the  prefent  Difeafe  in  the  Pa- 
tient, with  its  Caufes,  Nature,  Confequences, 
and  Symptoms. 

§.  1073.  For  from  all  thefe  Particulars, 
(§.  1072.)  the  Phyfician  learns,  1.  whatisto 

be 


§.  1076.  Methodus  Medendi.  281 

be  done  to  preferve  the  prefent  Life,  to  reco- 
ver it  when  impaired,  and  to  remove  every 
thing  which  might  deftroy  or  diminifh  Life ; 
2.  to  know  what  Medicines  or  Instruments  are 
to  be  chofe  for  obtaining  this  End,  with  the 
particular  Manner,  Order,  and  Time  in  which 
they  are  to  be  adapted  and  applied. 

§.  1074.  Laftly,  that  Part  of  Therapeutics 
which  directs  how  to  difcover  the  Things  in- 
dicating, (§.  1070.)  and  the  Things  indicated 
(§.  1073.)  is  denominated  Methodus  Medendi^ 
or  the  Method  of  Healing,  a  Summary  of 
which  here  follows. 


The  Methodus  Medendi. 


§-I075'TN  every  fick  Perfon  there  is 
X  Life  1  remaining,  together  with 
its  Caufes  and  Effects;  and  thefe  are  termed 
Res  naturales^  and  commonly  Nature  itfelf. 

1  The  mod  perfect  Life  is  the  Faculty  of  per- 
forming all  the  Actions  agreeable  to  Nature  ;  but 
Life  difeafed  is  the  Faculty  of  performing  only 
fome  Functions  which  remain  in  the  Patient. 

§.  1076.  But  lince  Life  is  always  in  AStion  \ 
there  will  be  always  fome  of  thefe  Actions 
remaining  in  the  fick  Perfon,  which  before  ac- 
companied Health,  and  which  may  be  there- 
6  fore 


2$  2     Metbodus  Medendi.  §.1078. 

fore  efteemed  the  Remains  of  the  former 
Health,  and  the  Effects  of  prefent  Life,  un- 
der the  Denomination  of  Strength. 

1  The  Difeafe  always  cures  itfelf,  fince  it  is 
that  im  per  feci:  Life  which  ftill  remains  from  Health ; 
that  is  what  Hippocrates  calls  Nature,  and  what 
others  term  Strength  \  namely*  the  Powers  of  ge- 
nerating Motion. 

§.  1077.  Which  Powers  being  carefully  ex- 
amined, will  be  found  to  depend  upon  the 
remaining  Motion  of  the  Humours  through 
the  VefTels,  however  conditioned  that  Motion 
may  be. 

§.  1078.  And  though  thefe  Powers  are  re- 
duced to  the  leaft  degree,  they  yet  continue 
the  circulating  Motion  of  the  Humours  thro* 
the  Heart,  Lungs,  and  Cerebellum;  in  which 
therefore  confifts  every  1  the  leaft  Force  of 
Life,  which  may  be  increafed  in  various  de- 
grees. 

1  Hence  one  .may  underftand  what  Life  is  in  the 
leaft  Degree.  If  a  Perfon  falls  down  in  a  Syncope, 
the  Circulation  of  the  Blood  is  hardly  carried  on, 
and  though  the  Heart  now  palpitates,  Death  is 
not  yet  at  hand  ;  for  if  you  fprinkle  cold  Water 
upon  the  Patient,  the  Elafticity  of  the  vefTels  wiU 
be  increafed,  the  Motion  of  the  Blood  will  be  re- 
newed, and  the  Patient  recovered  :  but  Life  in  the 
higheft  Degree  is  an  increafed  Heat  and  violent 
Motion  of  the  VefTels  and  Humours,  that  is  to 
fay,  a  Fever. 


§•  i°79« 


§ .  i  o  8  2 .    Met  hod  us  Medendi.  283 


§.  1079.  From  what  has  been  faid,  it  is 
evident  that thefe Particulars  (§.  107510  1079) 
being  difcovered  and  well  underftood,  require 
to  be  preferved  and  reftored  to  their  healthy 
State.  And  the  Knowledge  of  this  is  termed 
the  vital  or  prefervative  Indication. 

§„  1080.  The  Caufe  of  this  Difeafe  being 
known,  calls  for  its  Direction  or  Removal ; 
and  as  the  Caufe  is  always  previous  to  the  Ef- 
fect, therefore  this  Indication  is  termed  Pro- 
phylactic cr  P>  efervative,  inafmuch  as  it  pre- 
vents the  .  pproaching  Difeafe  by  an  Extirpa- 
tion of  its  Caufes  \ 

x  In  this  Cafe  I  do  not  cure  the  Difeafe  itfelf, 
fmce  the  Caufe,  according  to  Reafon,  is  always 
prior  to  the  Effect  \  but  I  forefee  what  is  about  to 
happen  from  the  Symptoms  now  prefent,  which  I 
therefore  predict  •,  and  this  is  what  we  term  pre- 
venting a  Difeafe. 

§.  1081.  But  the  Difeafe  itfelf  being  perfect- 
ly known,  indicates  the  Removal  of  it ;  and 
this  Indication  is  termed  Therapeutic  or  Cura- 
tive. 

§.1082.  Laftly,  the  Symptoms  being  known, 
and  importing  more  Danger  and  Uneafinefs 
than  will  permit  their  Treatment  to  be  defer- 
red, until  the  Difeafe,  whence  they  proceed, 
is  cured,  call  for  a  Mitigation  and  particular 
Treatment  of  them ;  and  this  is  called  the 
urgent,  mitigative  or  palliative  '  Indication. 

Suppofc 


284      .Methodus  Medendi.  §.  1083. 

1  Suppofe  an  ardent  Fever  under  Cure,  and  I 
act  upon  the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe  itfelf,  namely, 
the  too  great  Attrition  or  Motion  of  the  Humours, 
from  whence  I  forefee  a  Gangrene  will  follow ; 
then  this  Treatment  may  be  efteemed  prophylactic 
or  preventative.  When  I  fupport  Life  by  a  pro- 
per Regimen  and  Diet,  the  Cure  is  termed  prefer- 
vative  ;  but  if  from  thence  follows  fo  great  a  Hae- 
morrhage as  endangers  the  Life  of  the  Patient,  I 
niuft  then  leave  all  other  Considerations,  and  ap- 
ply a  Styptic  to  reftrain  the  Flux. 

§.1083.  From  whence  it  is  now  evident, 
that  what  is  proper  to  be  done  cannot  be  in- 
dicated, unlefs  we  firft  know  wherein  Life  1 
corififts,  with  its  Caufes,  Conditions,  Powers  or 
Strength  and  Effects ;  and  alfo  from  a  previ- 
ous Knowledge  or  Confideration  of  the  Dif- 
eafe with  its  Caufes,  Stages,  Degrees  of  Vio- 
lence and  Effe&s. 

1  If  nothing  was  to  be  done  by  the  Phyfician 
but  to  add  or  take  away,  the  whole  Art  might  in 
deed  be  learnt  with  Eafe-,  but  the  Addition  an  Re 
movalof  any  thing  may  be  injurious,  and  a  diffe- 
rent Treatment  is  required  in  the  very  fame  Dif- 
eafe in  the  fame  Patient,  but  at  different  times,  or 
in  the  fame  Stages  of  the  like  Difeafe  in  different 
People.  The  Phyfician  ought  therefore  to  diftin- 
guifti  betwixt  what  is  at  prefent  injurious  and  what 
is  ferviceable,  to  which  Depth  an  empirical  Practi- 
fer  feldom  penetrates.  But  a  Phyfician  learned  in 
all  the  Particulars  that  may  be  known  in  our  Day, 
may  as  firmly  and  confidently  anfwer  for  every 
thing  that  he  does,  as  a  Counfel  can  reafon  for 
his  Procedure,  agreeable  to  the  Digefts  or  efta- 

blifhed 


§ .  1085.  Methodus  Medendi.  285 

bliftied  Laws.  Yet  it  muft  be  confefled,  that  the 
Generality  of  common  Phyficians  run  daily  intp 
Errors,  either  from  too  much  Bufinefs,  or  from 
Hurry  and  want  of  Thought.  Thus  alfo  myfelf 
being  much  hurried  in  Bufinefs,  I  frequently  fee 
that  I  have  erred  or  neglected  fomething,  which  it 
is  too  late  to  amend  or  prevent;  and  the  fame  is 
confeffed  of  themfelves  by  every  candid  Phyfician 
who  has  tranfmitted  Hiftories  of  his  Practice  to 
Pofterity. 

§.  1084.  Hence  it  follows,  that  firft  what 
is  to  be  done  muft  be  indicated  or  pointed 
out;  and  then  by  what  Remedies,  Dofe,  Con- 
dition, Time,  Order,  &c. 

§.  1085.  But  fince  all  thefe  Particulars 
(§.  1083.)  are  to  be  confidered  in  one  and  the 
fame  Patient,  while  every  one  calls  for  fome- 
thing  to  be  done  particularly  with  refpedt  to 
itfelf,  and  as  they  often  require  particular  and 
different  Remedies  to  be  applied,  it  frequent- 
ly falls  out,  that  what  is  indicated  to  be  pro- 
per for  one  Symptom  is  repugnant 1  to  another, 
or  as  an  oppofite  Remedy  to  that  which  is  re- 
quired by  another  Symptom.  From  hence 
therefore  is  derived  that  ufeful  and  celebrated 
Dodrine  of  the  Indicans  and  Contra-indicans, 
of  things  repugnant  and  permiffive,  or  which 
co-indicates  or  is  co-repugnant;  all  which  may 
be  eafily  underftood  from  what  has  been  al- 
ready delivered. 

1  In  a  fpurious  Peripneumony  the  Opprefiion 
of  the  Lungs  indicates  a  great  Impulle  and  Ob- 

ftrudtion 


2 86     Methodus  Medendi.    §.  1086* 

ftruclion  of  the  Blood  in  the  Lungs,  in  a  little 
time  capable  of  inducing  Suffocation  ;  and  there- 
fore thefe  Caufes  indicate  bleeding  to  make  a  Re- 
vulfion :  but  this  is  again  oppofed  by  the  Lentor 
or  Vifcidity  in  the  Blood,  which  is  increafed  by 
bleeding.  In  fuch  double  Calls,  that  is  always  to 
be  preferred  which  is  mod  neceffary  to  Life,  name- 
ly, bleeding  is  here  to  be  ufed  in  order  to  prevent 
imminent  Suffocation,  and  acquire  time  in  order  to 
diffolve  the  Vifcidity.  In  another  Cafe,  a  wound- 
ed Patient  being  greatly  weakened  by  a  Haemor- 
rhage, fome  Phyfician  will  perhaps  order  him  a 
Drink  of  rich  Wine,  or  fome  Cordials  to  recruit 
his  Strength  ;  but  another  more  cautious  Phyfi- 
cian will  forbid  every  thing  which  increafes  the 
Blood's  Motion,  left  the  Haemorrhage  mould  re- 
turn, and  difcharge  the  little  Blood  which  yet  re- 
mains within  the  Patient.  In  fuch  a  Cafe  then 
there  are  two  contrary  Indications ;  and  this  often 
occafions  the  greateft  Danger  and  Difficulty  in 
Practice :  for  if  you  give  any  Wine  or  Cordials* 
the  Patient  will  bleed  to  death  or  if  you  giv~ 
him  none,  he  will  perhaps  perifti  with  a  Deliqui- 
um  ;  and  yet  fomeCourfe  muft  inftantly  be  taken, 
fince  in  acute  Difeafes  efpecially  there  is  no  room 
for  Delay. 

§.  1 086.  Therefore  when  fuch  Contrarieties 
happen  together  at  the  fame  time,  the  Phy- 
fician muft  have  recourfe  to  the  Rules  or  Max- 
ims eftabliilied,  to  determine  his  Choice,  and 
remove  the  Difficulty,  which  would  otherwife 
arife  in  thefe  doubtful  Cafes ;  and  thefe  are 
principally  the  following. 


What. 


§.  io86.    Methodus  Medendi.     28 7 

1.  Whatever  indicates  in  the  Patient  re- 
quires either  to  be  prefer ved  or  removed. 

2.  Whatever  is  found  in  the  Patient  agree- 
able to  Nature  \  always  requires  to  be  pre- 
ferved  in  that  Condition. 

3.  But  whatever  is  found  in  the  Patient  cork* 
trary  2  to  Nature,  demands  a  Removal, 

4.  The  Body  is  made  up  of  thofe  things 
by  which  it  is  nourijhed. 

5.  Like  things  are  to  be  preferved  by  others 
of  a  like  Nature  4. 

6.  The  Caufe  curing  Difeafes  by  Remedies 
is  the  remaining  Life  s,  and  Conftitution  pe- 
culiar to  every  individual  Perfon,  which  being 
weak  or  deficient,  Medicines  are  of  little  Ufe. 

7.  Hence  therefore  when  the  vital  Indica- 
tion is  urgent,  together  with  any  other,  then 
the  former  muft  always  be  regarded  or  fatisfied 
in  the  firft  place. 

8.  But  where  unequal  Indications  urge  to- 
gether, the  greateft  ought  always  to  be  moft 
regarded  and  fatisfied. 

9.  The  Juvantia  and  Laedentia,  or  things 
which  appear  to  relieve  or  hurt,  are  fome  of 
the  chief  that  indicate. 

ic.  Contraries  6  are  removed  by  their  Op- 
pofites. 

1 1 .  Nature  rejoices  in  the  Ufe  of  thofe 
things  to  which  fhe  has  been  accuftomed,  but 
is  commonly  difordered  oruneafy  under  things 
umifual 7. 

1 2.  In  the  greateft  Maladies  the  moft  pow- 
erful Remedies  are  to  be  ufed  out  of  hand  or 
at  once. 


288       Methodus  Medendi,  §,  1087. 

13.  But  in  a  more  flight  Diforder,  milder* 
Remedies  are  to  be  given  gradually  and  in 
(mall  Quantities,  and  often  repeated. 

■  The  chief  thing  according  with  Nature  is  the 
Vis  Vit£^  which  yet  is  not  always  to  be  preferved 
in  the  fame  Strength ;  for  when  fomething  more 
urgent  contra  indicates,  the  Vis  Vita  is  to  be  dimi- 
nished or  weakened  difcretionally,  that  it  may  be 
afterwards  reftored  an  Inftance  of  which  is  well 
known  in  the  PJeurify. 

2  As  a  Flux  of  Blood  from  the  Nofe  may  be 
fupprerTed  by  opening  a  Vein  in  fome  other  Part. 

1  For  all  thatMafs  which  we  now  call  ourfelves, 
was  diffufed  in  other  Bodies  or  taken  from  the  Ali- 
ments, which  have  by  this  time  been  changed  into 
our  own  Nature.  Originally  we  were  infinitely 
fmal'er  than  a  Grain  of  Sand. 

4  Blood  is  repaired  by  more  Blood  made  in  its 
room,  Milk  with  Milk,  the  mild  Humours  with 
mild  Aliments,  and  the  acrimonious  with  thofe 
which  afe  acrid,  fcrV. 

s  ThePhyfician  therefore  operates  by  his  Skiil, 
not  upon  the  Difeafe  but  upon  Life,  which  has 
been  denominated  by  Helmont  the  Archeus ;  for 
only  fuppofe  the  animal  Humours  to  ceafe  once 
from  their  Circulation,  and  all  means  of  Recovery 
are  at  once  removed.  So  foon  as  Life  is  over, 
there  is  no  room  for  healing,  fince  no  Medicine 
operates  upon  a  dead  Body.  It  is  therefore  mani- 
feft  that  when  Indications  contradict  each  other, 
one  ought  to  chufe  that  Side  which  mail  preferve 
Life. 

6  Not  by  fuch  means  as  are  directly  oppofite  to 
the  prefent  Difeafe,  but  by  fuch  Remedies  as  will 
afterwards  manifeft  their  Effects,  contrary  to  the 
Caufe  of  the  Difeafe.    Parace'fus  and  Helmont  un- 

juftly 


§,  1086.    Methodus  Medendi.  289 

juftly  laugh  therefore  at  this  Maxim  \  as,  for  Ex- 
ample, that  a  Man  who  is  froze  mould  be  killed 
by  bringing  him  to  a  warm  Fire,  and  on  the  con- 
trary, that  his  vital  Heat  mould  be  renewed  only 
by  warning  and  rubbing  him  with  Snow  or  cold 
Water.  They  do  not  confider,  that  in  this  Cafe 
the  difeafed  Cold  muft  be  prelerved  by  Heat,  and 
that  the  Remedies  which  renew  the  Heat,  of  what- 
ever kind  they  are,  are  neverthelefs  certainly  op- 
pofite  or  contrary  to  the  Cold.  When  in  an  ardent 
Fever  the  Body  is  to  be  reftored  to  ics  natural  Cool- 
nefs  or  Temperature,  we  are  not  therefore  to  give 
cold  Water,  but  fuch  things  as  will  by  their  Ef- 
fects be  afterwards  followed  with  Coolnefs. 

7  It  were  to  be  wifhed  that  this  Maxim  was  al- 
ways had  in  remembrance;  for  Constitutions  and 
Difeafes  are  not  to  be  governed  and  altered  at  plea- 
fure,  like  Boys  in  the  Hands  of  a  School -matter* 
but  it  ought  carefully  to  be  learn'd  from  the  Cir- 
cumftances  of  the  Patient  what  is  neceflary  to  be 
done  for  every  thing  new  is  not  always  the  bed, 
but  that  only  which  is  moft  agreeable  to  Nature^ 
They  who  have  long  accuftomed  themfelves  tb 
drink  plenty  of  Wine,  cannot  fafely  be  altogether 
denied  it  when  they  are  difeafed.  Mithridates  fear- 
ing the  Treachery  of  his  Mother-in-law,  endea- 
vour'd  to  acquire  fuch  a  Habit  by  the  ufe  of  his 
Antidote,  as  would  render  him  able  to  fuftain  all 
the  Poifons  at  that  time  known  without  Harm  ; 
which  Advantage  however  terminated  at  laft  in  a 
Calamity,  fince  he  was  obliged  to  kill  himfclf  by 
the  Sword  to  efcape  the  Conqueror  •,  fince  Poifons 
were  of  no  Service.  There  was  an  Indian  Woman 
fo  much  accuftomed  to  a  moft  violent  Poifon,  that 
ihe  could  breathe  out  thepoifonous  Effluvia  on  all 
Sides,  fo  as  to  kill  thofe  who  loved  her  by  their 
lying  with  her,  herfelf  in  the  mean  time  efcaping 

U  free 


2gO     Methodus  Medendu    §.  1O9O. 

free  and  healthy     and  this  was  a  Contrivance  to 
kill  Alexander. 

8  Violent  Remedies  which  operate  in  a  very 
fmall  Quantity,  fliould  hardly  ever  be  ufed,  when 
others  more  mild  will  fuffice.  In  this  refpect  the 
Practice  of  two  celebrated  Phyficians  at  Amfterdam 
reconciled  each  other  \  for  one  proceeded  like  Fa- 
bius  the  Reman  Dictator  with  great  Deliberation 
and  Fearfuinefs,  while  the  other  ran  upon  the  con- 
trary Extremes  of  the  Cautery,  Knife,  and  moft 
potent  Medicines. .  If  one  of  thefe  was  called  alone 
to  a  Patient,  the  former  often  neglected  what  was 
neceflary,  and  the  latter  frequently  precipitated  the 
Patient  to  his  End  but  when  they  were  both  cal- 
led together  into  Confutation,  they  always  gave 
very  good  Advice,  the  Method  of  one  being  qua- 
lified by  that  of  the  other. 

1087.  The  Condition  of  Life  is  known 
from  the  Confideration  of  its  Powers. 

§.  10S8.  And  thefe  Powers  are  known 
the  Effects  which  they  manifeft  in  the  Pa 
tient. 

§.  1 089.  And  thefe  Effects  are  the  Perfor 
ance  of  the  remaining  Functions  not  ye 
deftroy.ed. 

§.  1090.  But  are  carried  on  by  the  Circula- 
tion '  of  the  Humours  through  the  Veffels  and 
Vifcera. 

1  Entire  Life  is  nothing  more  than  an  equable 
Diftributionof  all  the  vital  Humours  thro'  their  re- 
fpective  VelTels    for  if  a  healthy  Perfon,  furnimed 
with  every  thing  neceffary  for  the  Support  and  Con- 
tinuance 


§.1092.     Methodus  Medendi.  291 

tinuance  of  Life,  remains  but  a  fhort  time  immer- 
ged  under  Water,  then  Health  and  Life.itfeif  pe- 
rifh  together,  barely  from  the  Supprefiion  of  the 
Motion  or  Actions  of  the  Heart  and  Lungs,  tho" 
every  thing  die  remain  unaltered. 

§.  1 09 1.  In  which  therefore  is  required  a 
due  1  Quantity  of  healthy  Humours  to  be 
continually  moved  through  their  refpedtive 
VefTels. 

1  That  is  to  fay,  the  Blood  which  enters  the 
Heart  muft  be  replenished  with  a  due  Proportion 
of  all  thofe  Juices  which  are  requir'd  to  fill  the  fe- 
Veral  VefTels  throughout  the  Body. 

§.  1092.  The  Adion  of  the  VefTels  depends 
entirely  on  the  Co?itra£lion  1  of  their  Fibres, 
Which  being  diftradted  by  the  impelled  Hu- 
mours and  di (tended  into  a  greater  Arch, 
fhorten  themfeives  again,  difpofe  themfelves 
in  right  Lines,  and  approximate  their  mem- 
branous Sides  towards  the  Axis  of  their  Cavity, 
fo  as  to  propel  forward  their  contained  Hu- 
mours ;  and  this  is  what  we  are  properly  to 
understand  by  the  Force  of  the  VefTels,  to  be 
determined  varioufly  according  to  their  Figure. 

1  But  this  Power  of  Contra&ion  cannot  fubfift 
without  the  Motionof  the  Humours  urgedforward 
by  the  Heart  nor  can  the  Motion  of  the  Hu- 
mours fubfift  without  the  Elasticity  of  the  VefTels. 
This  contractile  Force  is  nothing  more  than  an 
Endeavour  of  their  Coats  to  approach  to  their 
•  former  Diameter  or  Capacity,  which  is  neceflarily 
U  2  fuppofed 


292      Methodus  Medendi.    §.  1094. 

fuppofed  to  be  dilated  or  enlarged  by  the  Hu- 
mours ;  nor  can  one  fubfift  without  the  other, 
but  both  of  them  are  equally  dependant  upon  the 
Caufe,  which  fees  every  thing  at  once  -y  and  there- 
fore the  human  Body  is  not  built  fo  mechanically 
without  the  Affiftance  and  Superintendency  of  the 
Omnipotent  Being,  who  fees  and  makes  every 
thing  at  once. 

§.  1093.  But  it  is  evident,  that  this  Adtion 
requires  an  elaftic  arijd  contractile  Power  in 
the  Fibres  \  to  refill  their  Diftraclion  or  Di- 
latation. 

*  Lewenhoeck  and  Ruyfch  demonftrate  that  the 
larger  VefTels  are  compofed  of  Membranes,  which 
Membranes  have  their  VefTels,  and  thofe  VefTels 
again  their  Membranes  and  VefTels,  continuing  in 
that  manner  down  to  the  fmalleft  or  lead  VefTels 
known  in  the  Body,  namely,  the  fmall  Nerves. 

§.  1094.  And  it  is  alfo  evident,  that  an  In- 
flux 1  of  a  moft  thin  Humour  into  the  fmalleft 
nervous  and  other  VefTels  which  compofe  the 
Membranes  of  the  larger,  is  neceffary  to  be 
made  alternately  for  the  Propulfion  of  the 
grofler  Humours  through  the  larger  VefTels. 

•  The  Defign  is  for  the  Humours  to  arrive  in 
the  fame  Quantity  and  Quality  as  is  neceflary  for 
the  Performance  of  every  Motion,  and  for  the  Vef- 
Tels to  be  elaftic,  fo  as  to  return  or  imprefs  a  due 
Quantity  of  Motion  again  upon  the  Humours. 


of 


§.  1096.  293 


Of  Cordials  and  Diet  of  the  Patient, 

§•  Ic95-  P  INCE  the  Heart  is  the  princi- 
pal  Caufe  of  all  the  Motions 
which  give  a  juft  Eftimate  of  the  vital  Powers, 
therefore  the  Remedies  which  fatisfy  the  vital 
Indication  are  properly  called  Cardiacs  1  or 
Cordials,  even  though  they  are  not  imme- 
diately fubfervient  to  the  Heart  alone. 

1  They  have  not  this  Name  upon  the  account  of 
their  acting  immediately  upon  the  Heart,  but  be- 
caufe  their  Effects  obliquely  increafe  the  Force  of 
the  Heart,  and  preferve  Life.  The  Latins  ufe  the 
Name  of  Cardiac  to  fignify  a  Difeafe  of  the  Sto- 
mach and  Horace,  fpeaking  of  a  covetous  Man 
who  would  not  allow  himfelf  Victuals,  fays, 

Won  eft  Cardiacus. 

§.  1096.  A  Variety  of  things  will  be  found 
to  come  under  this  Denomination  ->  but  yet 
they  may  and  ought  to  be  reduced  to  the  fol- 
lowing Claffes ;  fuch  as  1 .  thofe  which  refiore  1 
a  due  Quantity  of  healthy  Humours  in  the 
Body,  or  Juices  which  may  be  eafily  formed 
into  fuch  (§.  1 09 1.) ;  2.  fuch  things  as  infufe 
Power  or  Strength 1  into  the  Fibres,  and  give 
them  a  due  Elafticity  (§.  1092,  1093.) ;  3* 
U  3  thofe 


294'     Cordials  and  Diet.    §.  1097. 

thofe  which  increafe  the  Quantity  and  Motion 
of  tne  nervous  Juice,  that  by  filling  the  fmal- 
left  Veffels  the  larger  may  be  ftrengthened  as 
well  as  the  iefler  (§.  1094.) ;  and  laftly,  4. 
fuch  things  as  Jlimulate 3  the  moving  Fibres, 
and  by  that  means  agitate  the  fluggifh  VelTels, 
and  forward  the  Jlagnant  4  Humours. 

*  A  Perfon  who  has  loft  almoft  the  whole  Mafs 
of  Blood  by  a  Wound,  will  die  inevitably  unlefs 
new  Blood  be  fupplied  like  the  former  from  fuita- 
bJe  Nourifhment. 

4  If  the  Humours  indeed  are  in  good  Condition, 
and  only  Strength  is  wanting  inthe  Heart  and  Arte-, 
lies,  the  Humours  may  from  thence  ceafe  to  move, 
and  the  Patient  will  either  perifh  or  faint  away.  x 

3  There  is  a  certain  almoft  inexplicable  Power 
in  our  Bodies,  by  which  every  Part  is  violently 
contracted  from  the  Application  of  fomething  acri- 
monious y  if  but  a  Drop  of  Vinegar  happens  to  faU 
into  the  Eye  of  the  fiouteft  Man  while  he  is  in 
Combat  with  an  Enemy,  neither  his  Strength  nor 
Care  to  preferve  his  Life  can  prevent  him  from 
ihutting  his  f  ye  contrary  to  his  Inclination. 

*  If  a  Perfon  juft  drowned  is  taken  out  of  the 
"Water,  and  fuch  a  Force  applied  as  will  caufe  the 
Diaphragm  to  contract,  the  Per  on  feemingly  dead 
.will  return  to  Life  5  that  is,  the  Perfon  muft  be 
violently  fhook  and  agitated,  and  Air  muft  be  for- 
cibly impelled  through  the  Nofe  and  Mouth,  ac- 
cording to  the  Cuftom  ufed  in  Africa  \  as  I  learnt 
from  a  Manufcript,  and  which  is  agreeable  to  the 
Experiments  of  Hooke.    Phil.  Tranf.  N°.  28. 

§.  1097.  To  the  firft  of  thefe  Claries,  I 
therefore?  refer  thofe  Liquors,  which  are,  i„ 

endowed 


§,  icgy.  Cordials  and  Diet.  295 
endowed  with  a  Faculty  of  nourifhing^  the 
Body  of  the  Patient;  and  which  are,  2.  fo 
prepared  before-hand,  that  they  do  not  re- 
quire 1  the  Actions  of  Maftication  in  the 
Mouth,  and  Digeftion  in  the  Stomach  and 
Inteftines,  which  are  either  deficient,  or  too 
flowly  performed  in  weak  and  exhaufted  fick 
People  ;  3.  thofe  which  confift  of  a  Matter 
not  eafily  inclined  to  a  fpontaneous  Putre- 
faction, wThilft  the  expuliive  Force  of  the  Vif- 
cera  is  too  weak  to  expel  the  fame  in  due  time, 
or  whilft  they  are  mixed  with  fome  morbid 
or  putrid  Humour,  whether  Saliva,  Bile,  or 
any  other  ;  and  laftly,  4.  they  ought  not  to 
be  of  fuch  a  Difpofition,  as  to  afford  Hu- 
mours like  thofe  which  are  already  difeafed  in 
the  Patient's  Habit,  whence  they  might  in- 
creafe  the  Malignity,  or  ftir  up  the  Caufe  and 
Symptoms  of  the  Difeafe. 

»  Thefe  Actions  are  oftentimes  fo  weak,  that 
the  Patient  can  neither  digeft  nor  expel  theingefted 
Aliments,  which  are  fometimes  alfo  corrupted  by 
mixing  with  other  putrid  Aliments  or  Humours 
already  lodged  in  the  Way.  Thus  if  putrid  Bile 
lies  in  the  Stomach,  Eggs  and  Flefh  will  not  be 
convenient,  becaufe  they  putrefy  by  mixing  with 
putrid  Humours.  When  rancid  and  ill-fmeHing 
Vapours  are  difcharged  by  breaking  Wind  upward 
from  the  Stomach,  the  Patient  ought  (tri  ly  to 
abftain  from  oily  and  fat  Aliments,  &c<  but  fuch 
Aliments  are  to  be  given,  as  are  fitted  to  take  a 
direct  Courfe  through  the  Mefentery  and  lacteal 
Veffels  to  the  Blood  j  where,  with  very  little  Pre- 
paration, they  may  be  able  to  circulate  freely 
U  4.  through 


296     Cordials  and  Diet.    §.  11 00. 

through  the  fmall  VefleJs  of  the  Lungs  and  other 
Vifcera.  When  the  vital  Indication  is  therefore 
urgent,  all  thefe  Caufes  ought  to  be  confidered, 
in  order  to  determine  what  kind  of  Cardiac  will 
be  molt  convenient. 

§.  1098.  Such  Cardiacs  as  thefe  (§.  1097.) 
are  called  for  when  the  vital  Powers  are  weak, 
and  attended  with  the  Signs  of  Inanition  or 
Emptinefs  of  the  VefTels  of  any  kind.  But 
a  Weaknefs  of  the  Powers  frequently  arifes 
from  a  Plethora  only  ;  and  in  that  Cafe,  Ab- 
ftinence  and  Evacuations  may  be  efteemed 
Cardiacs. 

§.  1099.  But  the  Materials  proper  to  corn^ 
pole  fuch  Cardiacs  (§.  1097.),  may  be  deter- 
mined by  the  Phyfician  from  carefully  en- 
quiring into  the  peculiar  Nature  of  the  mon- 
bid  Humours,  which  predominate  and  offend 
in  the  Patient ;  for  then  fuch  Materials  muft 
be  chofe  as  are  oppoflte  to  the  known  2>- 
fravity  1  of. the  Humours;  which  we  have 
already  defcribed  in  treating  on  the  Signs  of 
Difeafes  (§.  909,  to  920.). 

1  According  as  either  a  faline,  oily,  bilious, 
caline,  or  acid  Acrimony  offends,  which  are  always 
to  be  oppofed  by  their  Contraries  ;  but  the  Signs 
by  which  we  may  difcover  the  Nature  of  the  pre- 
dominating Acrimony  are  mentioned  in  the  Place 
here  cited. 

§,  1 100.  When  therefore  the  Humours  in- 
-line to  an  alcaline  Acrimony  (§.  725,  757* 

911.) 


1 1 oo.    Cordials  and  Diet.  297 
911.)  then  the  cardiac  Materials  (§.  1096.  and 
1097.)  are  beft  derived;  i.from  a  Decodtion 
of  foft  mealy  Seeds  or  Grain  perfe&ly  ripe, 
-and  previoufly  dry'd,  or  as  it  were  roafted  up- 
on a  Kiln,  prepaid  by  long  boiling  with  pure 
Wa'er,  fo  as  to  form  thence  a  light  Ptifan  or 
Drink,  a  thicker  Decodtion,  a  Jelly  or  Cream 1 
frill  thicker  ;  or  laftly,  a  more  confiftent  Pud- 
ding ;  or  the  like  Preparations  may  be  made 
from  the  Crumb  of  Bread 2  with  Water,  fuch 
as  the  Panada  or  Panadella  of  the  Italians, 
differing  likewife  in  Degree  of  Confidence  or 
Thicknefs  j  or  the  like  may  be  made  from 
Oatmeal J  or  Barley  prepared,  greatly  ufed 
and  recommended  among  the  Inhabitants  of 
Britain  and  Germany :  For  the  fame  Purpofes 
may  likewife  ferve  all  kinds  of  mealy  Grain 
or  Seeds  prepared  as  mentioned  before  (§.  53. 
and  1034.)  and  formed  either  into  an  Emul- 
fion  or  Decodlion  with  Almonds,  Piftachio 
Nuts,  Poppy  Seeds,  &c.    2.  From  Fruits* 
perfedtly  ripe,  pleafant,  frefh  gathered,  and 
abounding  with  a  fweet  and  acid  Juice,  either 
preferved  with  Sugar,  or  converted  into  Jellies, 
or  boiled  with  Water,  and  with  a  fmall  Quan- 
tity of  Bread  boiled  in  it  before  it  is  prepared. 
Among  Fruits  fit  for  this  Purpofe,  are  the  four 
and  cyder  Apples,  ripe  Quinces,  China  and 
Seville  Oranges,  Pears  abounding  with  an  aci- 
dulous and  vinous  Juice,  Peaches,  Apricocks 
and  Plums,  efpecially  thofe  which  are  ripe 
and  dried  under  the  Name  of  Prunes  from 
France  and  &pain%  Damfons,  tart  and  fwcet 

Cherries, 


1 


2gS     Cordials  cmd  Diet.     §.  noo. 

Cherries,  Mulberries,  Grapes,  Currants,  RafV 
berries,  Brambleberries,  Elderberries,  Stravw 
berries,  &c.  3.  From  {oft  pulpy  Fruits  5  dik 
folved  in  Water  by  the  like  continued  boiling, 
and  then  rendered  more  agreeable  to  the  Tafte 
by  candying  with  Sugar ;  for  which  Procefs 
are  fitted  Apples,  Cucumbers,  Gourds,  Me^ 
Ions,  and  the  Heads  of  Artichokes,  &c.  4, 
From  milky,  foft,  and  acidulous  Potherbs, 
fuch  as  red  Cabbage,  Colworts,  Endive,  Chi*- 
chory,  Purflain,  Sorril,  Vipers-grafs,  Goats- 
beard,  Peafe,  &c.  5.  The  Milk  6  of  Animals 
feeding  only  upon  Herbs,  the  Whey  thereof, 
fkimmed  Milk,  Cream,  Butter-Milk,  four 
Milk,  and  the  like. 

1  When  a  very  weak  Patient  is  afflicted  with  3 
Pleurify  fo  that  he  can  hardly  breathe,  while  the 
acute  Fever  in  the  mean  time  continues  to  rage, 
there  is  no  Poffibility  of  giving  Cordials  with  any 
Safety  ;  nor  was  it  the  Practice  of  Hippocrates  to 
give  any  thing  more  than  Water,  in  which  parched 
Barley  had  been  boiled,  but  fo  that  the  Decoction, 
might  not  exceed  the  Thicknels  of  Whey.  After 
the  Fever  is  abated,  it  may  be  made  thicker  than 
%ht  Whey  of  new  Milk,  rendering  it  a  more  con- 
fident Aliment,  'till  it  at  laft  acquires  the  Nature 
of  a  Pudding.  Thefe  Aliments  were  given 
thicker  and  thinner  in  Confidence,  according  to 
the  different  Circumftances  of  the  Patient  an 4 
Diforder. 

a  The  Italians  hoti  Bread  inftead  of  Barley,  be- 
caufe  it  affords  an  Aliment  lefs  flatulent. 

3  The  Englifft  feed  almoft.  wholly  upon  Flefh, 
^nd  their  young  People  are  generally  florid  ;  but 


§.  Ti go!    Cordials  and  Diet.  2qq 

nothing  is  more  wholefome  for  them  than  Water- 
gruel,  or  a  DecocUon  of  Oats,  which  eafily  turns 
lour,  lubdues  the  Alcaly,  and  dilutes  the  Blood, 
/  Without  ever  putrefying.  Such  Aliment,  h  aturo 
herfelf  feems  to  crave  for  it  the  moft  delicate 
Fowl  be  offered  to  a  Perfon  in  a  Fever,  they  wil| 
be  fick  at  the  Smell  but  if  you  offer  in  the  room 
pf  it.  Cherries,  Butter-milk,  or  the  Juice  of 
Oranges  diluted  with  Water,  it  will  be  taken, 
with  an  eager  Appetite.  1  recommend  Oats  in 
this  Place  as  proper  for  acute  Difeaies,  becaufe 
I  it  is  their  Nature  to  incline  much  to  Acidity  ;  tor 
Oats  boiled  in  the  Morning  will  be  four  as  Vine- 
gar by  Noon  in  warm  Weather.  But  likewife  Bar- 
ley, Rice,  and  other  forts  of  Grain  may  be  uie4 
for  the  fame  purpofe. 

4  All  ripe  Summer  Fruits  are  here  convenient, 
when  they  have  been  drefied  by  Fire  fo  as  to  expel, 
the  Air,  and  aftewards  mixed  with  fbme  Crumh. 
of  Bread  and  Sugar.    This  is  what  I  frequently 
allow  my  Patients  in  many  acute  Dife.fes,  in  which 
it  proves  extremely  pleafant.  There  is  no  Aliment 
fo  convenient  for  hot  Countries  as  Garden  Fruits, 
efpecialiy  in  the  moft  Southern  Parts  of  France^ 
Spain,  &c.  where  the  Inhabitants  have  their  Hu- 
mours inclining  to  an  alcaline  Dilpolition  ;  for 
here  Nature  has  liberally  furnifhed  Garden  Fruits 
as  Aliments  and  Medicines  ;  but  thefe  always  ac- 
quire greater  Maturity  where  the  Cimate  is  hotted^ 
and  feldom  thrive  in  the  colder  Countries.  Thefe 
Fruits  are  likewife  fupplied  and  coveted  moil  in 
Summer  time,  when  the  Humours  are  moft  inclin'd 
to  Diforders  from  Putrefaction,  or  an  alcaline 
Acrimony.    Thus  you  fee  Nature  acts  the  Part  of 
a  Phyfician,  not  only  by  fupplying  them  with  what 
is  moft  convenient,  but  likewife  by^  giving  an  Ap- 
petite to  them  at  a  time  when  they  $re  molt  wanted. 

Thefe 


U  tydd  R\Jor -dim  and  Diet.        1 1  o  r . 

5  Thefc  Fruits  turn  four,  ferment,  and 
^Q^nj^i^^^p^Humours.  In  my  opinion,  nothing 
^  "  uiiJerrii^e  to  temperate  the  Bile,  and  cool  in  ar- 
dent Fevers,  than  Cucumbers ;  for  which  I  can  fee 
no  reafon  to  forbid  the  Patient  in  fo  ftri£t  a  man- 
ner as  is  rigidly  adhered  to  by  fome. 

6  Milk  likewife  eafily  turns  four,  and  Whey 
much  fooner,  but  Butter- milk  is  already  four. 
The  Whey  of  Milk  turned  by  boiling  with  But- 
ter-milk, and  draining  through  Flannel,  is  the 
thinneft  and  fined  of  any.  No  Drink  is  fo  con- 
venient as  this  in  ardent  Fevers,  Peripneumonies, 
Meafles,  Small-pox,  &c.  or  elfe  Milk  or  Whey 
with  three  times  as  much  Water,  and  a  little  Su- 
gar to  prevent  it  from  fouring. 

§.  hoi.  The  Choice,  Preparation,  prefer- 
ving  or  candying,  Quantity,  Method1  of  ufing 
and  adminiftering  of  all  which  (§.  iioo.)  are 
direded  by  the  Age,  Sex,  Conftitution,  Way 
of  living,  and  Circumftances  of  the  Patient, 
with  the  Caufe,  Stage,  Continuance,  and  pre- 
fent  or  future  Fffedts  of  the  Difeafe  itfelf,  and 
the  feveral  Symptoms  ;  to  which  add  the  Sea- 
fon  of  the  Year,  the  Weather,  and  the  like, 
which  have  any  relation  to,  or  Effe&s  upon 
the  Patient. 

»  No  Rules  can  be  here  given  proper  for  all  Ca- 
fes indifferently.  It  is  very  rarely  convenient  to 
give  thofe  Fruits  crude  which  breed  Flatulencies, 
whereas  dreffing  them  by  Fire  expels  the  Air.  I 
therefore  order  Apples  to  be  firft  boiled  in  Water, 
and  then  to  be  mixed  with  a  little  Wine,  Citron- 
Juice  and  Sugar-,  and  this  with  Oats  boiled  in  four 
Whey,  affords  a  very  convenient  Aliment  in  the 
moft  putrid  Difeafes,  §.  1 102 ;. 


§.  1 103.    Cordials  and  Diet.  301 

§.  1 102.  But  if  the  acid  Indifpofition  of  the 
Humours  (§.912,  760,  725.)  is  found  to  pre- 
dominate, then  thefe  nourifhing  Cardiacs 
(§.  1096,  1097.)  are  to  be  taken  from  the 
Clafs  of  Animals  1  (§.  1034.  N°  5.)  of  any 
Kind,  provided  they  are  healthy ;  as  alfo  from 
the  folid  Parts  of  Animals,  which  by  a  long 
'and  gentle  boiling  diffolve  in  Water,  and  fcrm 
thin  Broths,  i  Jellies *  or  Soups,  differing  in 
degrees  of  Strength  or  Richnefs;  to  which  add 
Eggs,  and  the  various  Compofitions  which 
may  be  made  from  hence.  And  in  this  acid 
Diftemperature  of  the  Humours,  thofe  Ani- 
mals are  beft  for  Food  which  feed  upon 
other  Animals. 

1  Efpecially  Birds  or  Fowls  which  feed  upon 
Worms  :  nor  is  there  any  thing  which  more  pow- 
erfully renfts  Acidity  than  Eggs,  which  putrefy 
fooner  than  any  thing ;  and  after  thefe,  come  ra- 
venous Birds,  Partridges,  Quails,  Filh  and  their 
Milts. 

*  But  care  muft  be  taken  not  to  offer  fuch  flrong 
Soups  to  weak  Stomachs,  for  they  can  only  be  di- 
gefted  by  great  Strength  of  the  vital  Powers,  with-, 
out  which  they  turn  to  a  morbid  Gluten.  Ic  is  a 
vulgar  Error,  that  thefe  ftrengthen  more,  as  they 
are  ftronger  of  the  Flelh  to  the  Tafte  ;  whereas 
they  would  certainly  be  infinitely  moreferviceable 
to  a  weak  Stomach,  when  diluted  with  ten  times 
as  much  Water. 


§.  1 103.  In  the  Ufe  of  the  Aliments  before 
mention'*!  (§.  1 102.)  all  the  like  Cautions  are 
5  to 


302    Cordials  and  t)iei.     %%  1106 

to  be  obferved,  which  we  enumerated  before 
S  hot.) 

§.  1  104.  If  a  muriatic  1  Acrimony  predo- 
minates (§.  917,  76c.)  it  will  be  convenient 
to  ufe  the  Aliments  before-defcribed  (§.  1  100^ 
nc2.)  free  from  Salt  or  Seafoning. 

1  In  this  Cafe  Garden-Fruits  and  Vegetables  are 
to  be  more  plentifully  ufed,  and  the  Flefli  or  Meat 
jhould  not  be  faked. 

§.  1 105.  But  when  an  oily  Acrimony  of- 
fends in  the  Humours  (§.  761,  762, 765.)  the 
like  Aliments  (§.  1 104.)  will  be  moft  conve- 
nient, after  being  plentifully  diluted  \  and  per- 
fectly freed  from  their  Fat  or  oily  Parts  * 

*  Such  as  may  be  made  with  theexpreffed  Juice  of 
ripe  Cherries  mixed  with  Water  and  a  little  Sugar, 
A  Decoction  of  Oats  is  likewife  here  ferviceable.  I 
cannot  imagine  how  Honey  and  Sugar  came  to  be 
reputed  bilious,  fince  both  of  them  difiblved  in 
Water  do  by  moderate  Heat  degenerate  into  the 
moft  (harp  Vinegar.  I  am  not  indeed  ignorant, 
that  there  is  a  black  kind  of  Honey  of  a  poifonous 
nature  in  fome  parts  of  Afta  ;  but  then  this  Qua- 
lity is  derived  to  it  from  the  Plants  out  of  whofe 
Flowers  the  Bees  gather  it. 

§.  1 106.  From  what  has  been  faid,  it  is 
likewife  eafily  apparent  which  of  thefe  kinds 
of  Aliments  will  be  moft  convenient  in  too 
thin  and  fluid  \  or  too  thick  and  grofs  a  Dif- 
pofition  of  the  Humours. 

3  H 


§.  1 107-    Cordials  and  Diet.  303 

«  If  the  Humours  are  too  fluid,  the  Fruits 
fhould  be  fubauftere ;  or  if  they  are  too  thick,  I 
find  them  all  diffolvable  almoft  to  the  Fluidity  of 
Water,  only  by  the  Ufe  of  Mud,  or  the  lately 
exprefifed  Juice  of  ripe  Grapes. 

§.  1 107.  To  the  fecond  Clafs  of  Cordials 
(§.  1096.)  are  judged  to  belong  thofe  things, 
which  ( 1 .)  being  applied  to  the  too  flaccid  Fi-  ? 
bres,  adhere  with  their  Particles  fo  as  to  ren- 
der them  more  firm  or  rigid  ;  for  which  pur- 
pofe  are  recommended  every  thing  abounding 
with  a  moderately  aftringent  Force ;  fuch  as 
chiefly  Apples,  Pears,  Quinces,  Pomegranates, 
the  mild  auftere  Fruits  of  the  wild  Cherry-tree, 
Strawberry-tree  and  Medlar  -y  with  the  feveral 
kinds  of  Myrobalans,  Acorns,  Barberries,  Myr- 
tleberries,  Acacia,  Rofes,  Services,  Hypocyftis; 
the  five-leaved  Grafifes,  Tormentils,  Docks, 
Plantans,  Houfeleeks,  Pimpernels,  Biftorts, 
the  Flowers  of  Granats  and  Rofes,  the  Barks 
of  the  former,  with  the  Peruvian  and  Tama- 
rijk  Bark  ;  the  Roots  of  Capers  and  Myroba- 
lans, the  Juices  of  Acacia,  Sloes,  unripe  Grapes, 
Maftic,  Frankincenfe,  Dragon's  Blood,  Lacca, 
and  rough  Wines  -}  earthy  or  mineral  Subftan- 
ces ;  the  feveral  kinds  of  Bole,  Ruddle,  Chalk, 
Allom,  Vitriol,  Steel. — (2.)  Such  things  as  by 
their  Aufterenefs  conftringe  and  compadt  the 
Fibres  when  relaxed,  or  feparated  from  each 
other,  reducing  them  into  one  Mafs 1 ;  of  which 
nature  are  all  the  preceding,  more  efpecially 
fuch  as  are  very  rough  to  the  Tafte,  whether 
from  Vegetables  or  auftere  Foflils,  unripe 

Fruits, 


304  Cordials  and  Diet.  §.1109. 
Fruits,  calcined  Vitriols,  or  Bones  and  Horns 
violently  calcined  :  all  which  are  more  efpeci- 
ally  effectual  when  affifted  by  Exercife  and 
Frictions,  &c. 

*  In  this  manner  the  Juice  of  Quinces  do  in  a 
moment  dry  up  all  the  Saliva  of  the  Mouth  by 
conftringing  the  Veffels,  and  forcing  out  their  Hu- 
mours by  Ihortening  the  Fibres,  and  caufing  them 
to  contract  with  a  greater  Force.  Thus  alfo  a  Di- 
arrhaea  is  produced  by  a  plentiful  eating  of  ripe 
Grapes.  The  Veffels  are  thus  ftrengthen'd,  be- 
caufe  the  diffolved  and  feparated  Fibres  are  by  the 
Ufe  of  thefe  compacted  together  into  one  Mafs. 
Tobacco-pike  Clay  when  calcin'd  adheres  fo  firm- 
ly to  the  Lips,  that  it  cannot  be  feparated  without 
pulling  off  the  Skin  ;  for  by  drawing  out  the  Hu- 
mours, the  Fibres  of  the  Veffels  approach  clofer 
together.  The  like  Effect  has  very  cold  Iron 
when  applied  to  the  Tongue,  as  Children  have 
fometimes  experienced.  But  all  thefe  things  ought 
to  be  ufed  with  Prudence,  fince  they  may  be  very 
mifchievous. 

§.  1 108.  Thefe  Corroborants  (§.  1107.)  are 
indicated  to  be  neceffary  when  there  is  a  great 
Weaknefs  throughout  the  whole  Body,  with 
a  Palenefs,  Coldnefs,  Lazinefs,  ferous  Defluxi- 
ons  and  Flaccid ity  of  the  Solids. 

§.  1 109.  But  in  the  Adminiftration  of  thefe. 
Remedies,  Prudence  1  and  Caution  are  requi- 
red agreeable  to  the  feveral  Circumftances 
mentioned  before  (§.  1101)  5  and  more  efpe- 
cially  is  Caution  required,  when  from  the  Con- 
fideration  of  the  Fffefts  of  them,  we  know 

that 


§.  1 1  io.    Cordials  and  Diet.  305 

that  auft  ere  Subftances  aft  too  powerfully  upon 
the  Prima  Vicey  and  at  the  fame  time  produce 
little  or  no  Effect  internally  in  the  ftnall  VefTels 
and  Fibres  of  the  whole  Body. 

1  For  even  the  beft  Medicines  may  by  an  im- 
prudent Ufe  become  mifchievous.  The  Ufe  of 
auftere  Subftances  is  commonly  recommended  in 
Jeucophlegmatic  Diforders,  when  at  the  fame  time 
they  conftringe  the  abforbing  VefTels  in  the  Sto- 
mach and  Inteftines,  fo  as  to  prevent  their  PafTage 
into  the  Blood,  and  therefore  exert  their  Action 
only  in  the  Prima  Via  \  or  if  they  penetrate  into 
the  Blood,  they  obftruft  its  Courfe  through  the 
fmalleft  VefTels.  But  mufcular  Motion  and  Fric- 
tions much  better  reftore  the  languid  Elafticity  of 
the  Fibres,  and  at  the  fame  time  operate  upon  the 
Humours  in  like  manner  as  on  the  healthy  VefTels. 
This  Method  juftly  deferves  the  many  Praifes 
given  to  it  by  Galen who  has  left  us  a  Book  pro- 
feffedly  upon  Frictions. 

§.  1 110.  But  the  third  Clafs  of  Cordials 
(§.  1096.)  feems  to  confift  chiefly  in  the  mod 
fubde  Parts  of  healthy  Animals  which  are 
young  and  vigorous,  plentifully  taken  into  a 
weak  Body,  in  which  fuch  Parts  are:  deficient. 
This  feems  to  be  performed  (1.)  by  drawing 
in  the  Exhalations  or  Vapours  perfpiring  from 
fuch  healthy  Animals  \  when  they  are  applied 
like  a  Fomentation  to  the  Patient's  Body  ; 
(2.)  by  fucking  Milk  warm  from  the  Paps~z 
of  healthy  V/  omen ;  (3.)  by  breakfafting  upon 
Broth  made  by  boiling  Flefli  in  a  clofe  Vejfel*  -y 
(4.)  by  odoriferous  and  pleafant  Vapours,  as 
X  of 


306     Cordials  and  Diet.    §.  1111. 

of  Saffron,  Jafmin,  Citrons,  Oranges,  Balm, 
&c.  (5.)  by  fragrant  Wine  which  is  clear, 
fweet,  volatile 4  or  well  fermented,  and  not 
compofed  of  too  grofs  Parts. 

1  Weak  People  breathe  better  when  they  are  in 
Company  with  many  young  Folks,  than  when 
they  fit  alone. 

2  Thus  the  alimentary  Juices  are  prepared  by  a 
Woman  into  an  healthy  Humour,  which  being 
thus  fucked  from  the  Pap,  is  repleniihed  with  thofe 
Spirits  with  would  exhale,  if  it  was  expofed  to 
the  common  Air.  By  this  means  Capivaccius  re- 
ftored  a  certain  Prince  from  a  Confumption,  who 
was  the  only  remaining  Branch  of  a  noble  Family, 
by  ordering  to  fuck  Women  who  ufed  a  certain 
Diet  which  fucceeded  fo  happily,  that  now  two 
Centuries  having  pafifed  fince  that  time,  the  ancient 
Family  furvives  and  flourifhes. 

3  Namely,  in  one  of  Papin's  Digeftors,  to 
prevent  the  fpirkuous  and  volatile  Parts  from 
efcaping. 

4  When  the  bed  mature  Wine  is  expofed  to  the 
Air  in  a  large  Plate,  it  exhales  a  volatile  Odor 
different  from  that  the  fame  Wine  affords  while  it 
is  drank  the  remaining  Part  being  vapid  and  dif- 
agreeabie  to  the  Palate  and  Stomach,  after  having 
been  thus  expofed.  But  we  ought  to  be  cautious 
how  we  breathe  in  this  Vapour ;  for  the  Exhala- 
tions of  Rhenifh  Wine,  of  Jafmin,  and  of  the  Sea, 
being  breathed  for  a  considerable  time,  do  in  a 
manner  fix  the  Spirits,  and  render  them  immove- 
able. 


§.  1 1 1  r.  Thefe  Cordials  are  known  to  be 
necelfary,  when  the  Powers  appear  deficient  \ 

5  and 


§ .  1 1 1 2 .    Cordials  and  Diet.  307 


and  at  the  fame  time  there  are  evident  Signs 
of  Weakness  and  Averfion  to  all  mufcular 
Motions  or  Exercifes  5  and  while  in  the  mean 
time  the  Exercife  of  the  Senfes  leans  much 
impaired,  efpecially  if  thefe  are  attended  with 
evident  Signs,  that  there  are  due  Quantities  of 
the  grofler  Humours  contained  in  the  other 
larger  Veffels.  From  the  fame  Confiderations 
it  may  aifo  be  determined  when  the  other 
kinds  of  Cordials  are  neceilary. 

1  In  an  ardent  Fever  where  the  Humours  cir- 
culate toofwifrly,  thefe  are  all  prejudicial ;  but  they 
are  chiefly  ufeful  when  there  is  a  Languor  of  the 
Nerves,  as  when  a  Perfon  faints  away  at  the  Sight 
of  a  Wound,  though  the  Veffels  at  the  fame  time 
continue  ftrong,  and  replenifhed  with  Humours 
and  Spirits,  oi  ly  wanting  a  due  Motion  :  in  this 
Cafe  therefore  only  the  Afpeffion  of  cold  Water, 
or  the  Application  of  Spirit  of  Wine  to  the 
Noftrils  will  fuffice  to  recover  the  Patient.  They 
who  have  been  extracted  from  the  Water  after  they 
have  deen  drowned  near  a  Week,  have  been  fome- 
times  known  to  recover,  by  rubbing  the  Spina 
dorfi,  rolling  the  Body  about,  and  inflating  Air 
by  the  Mouth  and  Anus,  as  Pechhn  teftifies. 

1 112.  But  the  fourth  and  la  ft  Clafs 
of  Cordials  (§.  1096.)  is  found  lb  large  and 
extenfive,  that  it  therefore  deferves  tobefub- 
divided  into  feveral  more,  in  order  to  be  bet- 
ter underftood  and  confider'd. 

I.  Such  as  the  fi  efh  Juices  of  all  thofe  Fruits 
in  which  there  is  a  pleafant,  acid,  and  pene- 
trating Tafte,  with  a  refrefhing,  fweet,  and 
X  2  fragrant 


308      Cordials  and  Diet.     §.  1 1 1 2, 

fragrant  Smells,  together  with  a  nourifhing 
Quality.  The  principal  of  this  Kind  are  O- 
ranges,  both  China  and  Seville,  but  efpecially 
the  Shaddock  1  Oranges,  ripe  Granates,  fragrant 
Pippins,  the  Pine-apple,  Melons,  thebeft  tafted 
Cherries,  Strawberries,  Mulberries,  Rafberries, 
mufked  Grapes,  black  Currants,  Prunes, 
Peaches,  Apricocks,  and  the  like ;  which  are 
the  moft  refrefhing  Cordials  in  Weaknefs  with 
Heat  and  Drinefs. 

II.  Hitherto  belong  alfo  the  diffufed  Odors 5 
of  fragrant  Vegetables,  which  are  pleafant  to 
the  Smell ;  fuch  as  1.  the  mild  fmelling,  (and 
efteemed  grateful  almoft  to  every  one)  the 
Rinds  of  Oranges,  Citrons,  and  Lemons,  the 
Flowers  of  Eorrage,  Betony,  Buglofs,  Saffron, 
Jafmin,  Lillies,  Maudlin,  Bawm,  Myrtle, 
Meadow-fweet,  Safaphras,  Elder,  tuberous 
Hyacinths,  Rhodium,  &c.  or,  2.  Of  the 
warmer  3  and  more  fharp  or  fpicy  Vegetables, 
fuch  as  Southernwood,  Wormwood,  A  mo- 
mum,  Lignum-aloes,  Dill,  Angelica,  A- 
nice,  Mugwort,  Acorus,  Cyprus,  Calaminr, 
Ground-pine,  Cummin,  Wall-flowers,  Car- 
raway,  Coriander,  Cinnamon,  Cloves,  Carda- 
moms, Dittany,  Galengals,  HyfTop,  Juniper, 
Lavender,  Mafterwort,  Laurel,  Maftic,  Mint, 
Marjerom,  Mace,  Nutmegs,  Bazil,  Penny- 
royal, Rue,  Savin,  Sage,  wild  and  Garden 
Thyme, Lemon-thyme, Ginger,  &£•  to  which 
may  be  added  the  ferulaceous  Gums,  Ammo- 
niacum,  Bdellium,  Elemi,  Galbanum,  Myrrh, 

Onopa- 


§.  1 1 1 2.    Cordials  aitd  Diet.  309 

Opopanax,  Olibanum,  Sagapcn,  Afa-fcetida, 
Camphire,  Styrax,  liquid  Amber,  &c. 

Ill  Some  Odors  which  are  indeed  lingular  4, 
and  in  many  Inftances  endowed  with  a  won- 
derful ftimulating  Force,  as  we  find  in  Am- 
bergrifs,  Benjamin,  Cafter,  Mufk,  Styrax  dry 
and  liquid,  Civet,  &c. 

IV.  Medicines  taken  internally  from  all  or 
any  of  thefe  Simples,  and  operating  that  way 
upon  the  whole  Body. 

V.  To  thefe  may  be  added  the  numerous 
Tribe  of  Subftances  which  abound  with  thin, 
volatile,  acrid,  and  ftimulating  Particles  which 
wonderfully  affect  the  Nerves;  iuch  as,  i. 
jhofe  abounding  with  a  volatile  Acid,  as 
Wines  (efpecially  Rhenijh  and  Mofelle)  and 
Vinegars J,  both  fimple  and  compounded  with 
Aromatics ;  2.  the  Liquors  commonly  called 
Spirits,  fuch  as  all  the  Spirits  of  Vegetables 
prepared  by  Fermentation,  and  rectified  either 
limply  by  themfelves,  or  fat u rated  with  Aro- 
matics ;  3.  fimple,  volatile,  alcaline  Spirits, 
and  thefe  united  either  with  Alcohol  Vini,  or 
with  aromatic  Oils  •  4.  Aromatic  Oils  pro- 
cured either  by  Diftillation  or  Expreflionj 
r.  and  laftly,  the  innumerable  Compofitions 
which  may  be  made  up  from  the  feveral  fore- 
mention'd  Simples  at  the  Pleafure  of  the 
Phyfician,  as  Epithems,  Liniments,  medicated 
Drinks,  Fumes,  diftilled  aromatic  Waters  fim- 
ple and  compound,  fweet-fmelling  artificial 
Balfams  fimple  and  compound,  Elasofacchara 
gf  various  Kinds,  Confections  or  Electuaries 

X  3  particularly 


310     Cordials  and  Diet.    §.  1112. 

particularly  denominated  cordial  from  their 
principal  Ingredients,  compound  aromatic 
Spirits,  Oils  and  Cordials,  volatile  oily  Salts 
aromatic  and  fpirituoiis  of  various  Kinds, 
Tinctures  made  from  the  moft  fragrant  Aro- 
matics  with  Alcohol  or  rectified  Spirit  of 
Wine;  with  many  other  Preparations  of  the 
like  nature  contrived  agreeable  to  the  Fancy 
and  Intention  of  the  Compounder. 

1  I  never  found  fo  good  Effects  from  the  Ori- 
ental, Occidental,  or  Porcupine  Bezoar,  as  from 
the  exprefs  Juice  of  this  Fruit,  which,  if  applied 
frefh  to  the  Noftrils  of  a  Perfon  in  a  Swoon,  Hid- 
den ly  recovers  the  Strength 

z  Such  as  being  volaile  exhale  in  a  fhort  time, 
and  lofe  ail  their  Efficacy.  Among  thefe,  fome 
that  fwell  more  intenfeiy  fweet,  as  the  Indian  tu- 
berous Hyacinth,  are  too  ftrong  or  hurtful  to  the 
Nerves  of  weak  Men  and  hyilerical  Women,  who 
have  their  Spirits  not  too  fluggifn,  but  eafily 
moveable,  and  their  Nerves  too  cafily  affected  by 
Irritation ;  whereas  foetid  Smells  are  profitable  to 
fuch,  nor  is  there  any  thing  better  in  thefe  Cafes 
than  Alfa  fcetida  formed  into  fmall  Pills,  anJ 
given  three  times  every  Day.  I  knew  a  certaii 
great  Phyfician  who  highly  efteemed  as  a  Secre 
fmali  Pills  made  of  Affa  fcetida,  with  a  little 
Camphire,  Caftor,  and  a  good  deal  of  Maftic 
made  into  a  Mafs  with  a  little  Turpentine:  and 
when  a  Woman  fainted  away,  or  was  taken  with 
hyfteric  Fits,  he  gave  one  of  thefe  Pills  of  about 
five  Grains,  repeating  it  at  fmall  Intervals  to  the 
Number  of  fifteen  with  great  Succefs  for  they 
made  a  powerful  Cordial,  affording  a  permanent 
and  lading  Stimulus.    The  lume  Pills  were  alio 

found 


§.  I X 1 3 .    Cordials  and  Diet.  311 

found  ufeful  to  Orators,  and  thofe  obliged  to  (peak 
with  a  high  Voice  in  Public. 

3  Among  thefe  Angelica  is  the  principal  ;  but 
all  of  them  exhale  a  volatile  Vapour.,  which,  as 
longs  as  it  lafts,  denotes  that  the  Simples  are  ef- 
ficacious. 

4  Mufk  is  tolerable  to  Men,  when  it  is  infup- 
portable  to  Woman  even  in  Health.  Civet  is  a 
wonderful  kind  of  Excrement :  for  I  have  feen  that 
in  the  Chambers  at  Amfterdam  where  this  Animal 
is  kept,  they  who  firft  enter  them  are  almoft  fud- 
dled ;  and  if  a  Woman  of  a  tender  or  delicate 
Make  enters,  me  fuddenly  faints  away.  The  like 
is  alfo  true  of  Ambergrifs.  Hitherto  may  be  re- 
ferred the  Doctrine  of  the  Adepts,  who  teach,  that 
the  Nature  and  Efficacy  of  Simples  lies  in  a  won- 
derful Spirit,  efpecially  in  Vegetables  taking  up 
the  lead  imaginary  Bulk,  which  being  taken  into 
our  Bodies,  ftirriulates  our  Spirits  to  operate  more 
brifkly ;  but  if  taken  in  too  great  a  Quantity,  they 
diffipate  and  extinguish  the  Spirits  like  the  Flame 
of  a  Candle  in  the  Sun. 

5  For  fainting  Fits  during  a  Woman's  firft  going 
with  Child,  I  know  nothing  better  than  the  Va- 
pours of  boiling  hot  Vinegar  held  under  the  Nofe, 
which  is  a  very  fafe  and  certain  Reftorative. 

§.  1 1 13.  Great  Caution  is  neceffary  in  the 
Ufe  of  all  thefe  Medicines  (§.  11 12.)  fince, 
if  they  are  given  inwardly  to  People  whofe 
Humours  are  not  difpofed  to  flow  eafily 
through  the  Veffels,  they  excite  a  febrile  or 
inflammatory  Motion,  which  tends  to  a  De- 
ft ruff  ion  \ 


X  4 


Very 


312      Cordials  and  Diet.    §.  1 1 1 5^ 

1  Very  often  in  Adults  weakening  the  Patient  is 
the  greater!  Cordial,  as  I  have  frequently  but  never 
enough  intimated.  A  healthy  young  Man  who  is 
plethoric  and  given  to  Wine,  begins  at  length  to 
fall  into  a  Weaknefs,  fo  that  he  cannot  {land  upon 
his  Legs ;  and  if  you  give  him  the  Cordials  before- 
mentioned,  you  increafe  his  Weaknefs,  but  if  you 
bleed  him  two  or  three  Pounds  his  Strength  always 
returns.  For  in  this  cafe  the  Weaknefs  arofe  from 
too  great  a  Motion  of  the  Spirits.  Thus  two  con- 
trary Winds  meeting  and  deftroying  each  other 
make  a  Calm,  and  caufe  the  Barometer  to  rife  high 
as  before  a  Temped :  but  fo  foon  as  the  North 
Wind  has  overcome  that  of  the  South,  then  the 
more  cold  and  heavy  Air  ru  fries  forward  with 
a  considerable  Force  over  the  Regions  of  its 
Adverfary. 

§.  1 1 14.  Thefe  Sorts  of  Cordials  (§.  1 1 12.) 
are  called  for  when  there  is  a  Deficiency  in  the 
circulating  Motion  of  the  Humours,  ariling 
only  from  an  Inactivity  of  the  Fibres,  the 
Humours  being  in  the  mean  time  free  from 
Acrimony,  and  difpofed  to  pafs  freely  through 
the  VefTels :  but  which  of  thefe  fcveral  Kinds 
are  to  be  chofe,  muft  be  determined  from  con- 
fide ing  the  Nature  of  the  offending  Malady, 
and  of  the  Cordial  to  be  ufed. 

§.  1115.  From  what  has  been  faid  may  alfo 
appear  what  kind  of  Diet  or  Regimen  will  be 
rnofr.  convenient  and  necefTary  for  the  Cure  of 
a  Difeafe  (§.  1097,  to  j  1 1 5.) 


Prophylaxis 


Prophylaxis  Therapeutica,  or  the 
Preventative  Cure  of  Difeafes. 

§.ui6.npHE  Caufes  of  Difeafrs  (§.  787, 
to  80 !.)beingaccurately known 
by  their  refpective  Signs,  (§.  871,  to  1  12.) 
indicate  their  Removal.  If  therefore  they 
refide  in  the  folid  Pa  ts,  it  will  be  necefiary  to 
remove  the  external,  injuring,  or  deftruclive 
Caufe.  to  procure  an  Union  of  Parts  diibrdered 
by  Separation  ;  to  feparate  Parts  which  are 
united  by  Difeafe  y  to  remove  fuperfluous 
Parts  5  or  laftiy,  to  fupply  the  Deficiencies 
of  Parts  loft. 


§.  1 1 17.  The  Diforders  indicating  thefe 
Intentions  (§.  11 16.)  in  the  larger  fenfible 
Parts  of  the  Body,  require  to  be  relieved  by 
Surgery,  which  is  altogether  employ 'd  in  an- 
fwering  the  five  laft  mention'd  Intentions  by 
Inftruments,  manual  Operation,  and  topical 
Remedies,  in  the  manner  defcribed  more  at 
large  by  the  beft  Writers  ;  as  Parey,  Hildanus, 
Solingen,  Dio?iis}  La  Motte,  Heijter,  &c. 

§.  u  18.  But  if  thefe  Diforders  are  feated 
in  the  interior  Parts  1  of  the  Body,  they  are 
to  be  oppofed  by  other  Remedies,  though  like 
the  former  in  their  Operation  3  and  as  Poifons 

are 


314         Of  Antidotes.       §.  1 1 1 9* 

are  the  principal  things  which  produce  fuch 
Diforders  in  thefe  Parts,  we  are  firft  to  treat  of 
them. 

1  A  Wound  infli&ed  upon  the  Pibas  Mufcfe,  or 
one  penetrating  any  of  the  Venters,  does  not  differ 
in  its  Nature  and  Way  of  Cure,  only  the  Matter 
being  confined  makes  it  more  dangerous,  when  it 
would  be  falutary  in  an  external  Wound.  What 
then  am  I  to  do  in  liich  a  Cafe  ?  It  is  not  practi- 
cable to  apply  an  Emplafter,  which  in  an  external 
Wound  would  retain  the  Lips  together,  and  it  is 
hardly  poflible  to  fupprefs  the  Hemorrhage.  But 
in  thefe  internal  Cafes,  Nature  herfelf  does  what  we 
ufually  expect  from  Emplaflers  externally  ;  name- 
ly, me  fupplies  a  Dew  or  Moifture  like  that  which 
we  perceive  upon  the  Skin  confined  by  an  Em- 
plafter ;  and  this  keeps  the  Solids  in  a  Difpofuioa 
fit  to  unite  and  heal  the  Wound. 

Of  An TIDOTE s. 

§.  1 1 19.  I  ^  H  E  ftrong  or  quickly  1  adting 
J[  Poifons  4  (§.  796.)  whether 
taken  into  the  Body,  or  applied  externally, 
making  the  Caufes  of  Difeafes  by  their  own 
proper  Force,  or  by  firft  introducing  fome  mor- 
bid Change  or  Corruption  in  the  Parts  them- 
felves  infedled,  indicate,  1.  a  Removal  of  the 
poifonous  Caufe;  2.  a  Correction  of  that  which 
is  already  received,  or  which  cannot  be  avoid- 
ed; 3.  or  that  its  Expulfion  is  neceffary  out  of 

the 


§.  1 1 1  g.      Of  Antidotes.  315 

the  Body  ;  4.  to  mitigate  the  feveral  Sym- 
ptoms ;  5.  to  fortify  the  Body  againft  the 
Force  of  the  Poifon  which  is  taken  in,  or  ap- 
plied to  the  Body. 

1  There  are  fome  Poifons  preparable  by  Art 
fo  as  to  kill  in  the  inftant  they  are  given,  their 
Effects  being  hardly  capable,  of"  being  prevented 
by  any  Art.  There  was  a  certain  Lady  of  Quality 
who  invented  a  Powder  of  this  kind  in  the  Reign 
of  Lewis  xiv.  by  which  a  great  many  gained  the 
Eftates  of  others  by  killing  the  true  Heirs,  whence 
it  acquired  the  Name  of  Succeflion  Powder.  But 
the  Members  of  the  burning  Chamber  put  an  End 
to  this  Scene,  for  which  Purpofe  they  were  infti- 
tuted  •,  though  it  was  from  hence  that  I  firft  took 
occafion  to  enquire  attentively  into  the  Nature  of 
thefe  Subftances. 

2 1  have  taken  much  Pains  and  Trouble  about 

this  Article,  having  read  all  the  Writers  who  have 

wrote  upon  Poifons  in  any  Language,  and  made 

an  Extract  of  their  Obfervations  :  I  difpofed  them 

under  the  following  Gaffes,  and  compiled  a  fmall 

Treatife  concerning  thofe  Poifons ;  fo  that  if  there 

•      •     •  1  • 
is  any  Part  valuable  in  this  Book,  this  is  certainly 

fo,  in  my  Opinion,  which  treats  upon  Poifons.  I 
learned  much  concerning  poifonous  Plants  from 
the  Writers  on  Botany  and  could  have  added 
many  Particulars,  which  I  thought  it  better  to 
fupprefs,  as  the  Knowledge  of  them  might  con- 
duce more  to  the  Mifchief  and  Detriment  than  any 
Benefit  to  Mankind.  I  could  have  mentioned 
Poifons  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  that  kill  a 
Perfon  in  the  twinkling  of  an  Eye  without  any 
previous  Notice.  But  to  pafs  thefe  by,  I  define  Poi- 
fon in  general,  every  thing  which  being  taken  into, 
or  applied  to  the  Body,  excites  fuch  a  morbid 

Change, 


3 1 6  Of  Antidotes.       §.  1 1 2 0. 

Change,  which  Nature  herfe'f  cannot  get  over  ; 
whence  the  Poifon  may  be  termed  quick  or  (low,  in 
proportion  to  the  time  in  which  its  Effects  appear. 
A  Poifon  differs  from  Aliment,  inafmuch  as  the 
Parts  of  the  latter  are  mutable  by  thePowers  of  the 
living  Body  into  healthy  animal  Humours-,  whereas 
a  Poifon  or  a  Medicine  are  not  thus  mutable  the 
two  latter  differing  from  each  other  only,  as  the 
Change  made  by  the  one  is  deflructive,  and  by 
the  other  falutary  to  the  living  Animal ;  whence  it 
is  plain,  how  eafily  a  Medicine  may  become  a 
Poifon.  Glafs  of  Antimony  given  in  a  fmall  Dofe 
purges  upward  and  downward,  and  recovering  the 
Patient -is  a  Medicine ;  but  if  the  fame  be  ad- 
minifter'd  in  too  large  a  Dofe,  it  may  kill  the 
Patient,  by  exciting  fuch  a  vomiting  and  purging 
as  can  end  only  in  Death.  Thus  it  appears,  that 
many  Subftances  are  both  Medicines  and  Poifons 
according  as  they  are  ufed. 

§.  T120.  The  Caufe  fpreading  and  com- 
municating the  Poifon  to  the  Body,  or  mixing 
its  Contagion  with  the  Air,  or  being  imme- 
diately applied  to  and  taken  into  the  Body  by 
the  inhaling  Veilels,  may  be  eafily  removed 
when  it  is  known  and  evident 1  to  the  Senfe  ; 
I.  by  taking  away  or  deftroying  the  poifonous 
Subftance  itfelf,  and  efpecially  by  burning  it 
with  large  Fires  or  Flames 2 ;  by  correcting 
the  Air  which  brought  or  communicated  the 
poifonous  Effluvia,  which  is  be  ft  done  by  the 
Vapours  of  denfe  Bodies  burnt  or  made  hot, 
and  known  to  poffels  a  Power  oppofite  to  that 
of  the  Poifon.  Thus  the  Fumes  of  Vinegar  \ 
Spirit  of  Salt,  and  the  firing  of  Gunpowder  are 

ierviceable 


§.ii20.        Of  Antidotes.  317 

fcrviceable  in  deftroying  the  cauftic,  alcaline, 
and  putrid*  Fumes  ;  but  acid  poifonous 
Exhalations  are  corrected  by  the  Odours  of 
alcaline  5  and  oily  Spirits.  It  may  be  again 
removed  by  changing,  diffipating  or  renewing 
the  Air  by  an  artificial  Wind,  more  efpecially 
if  the  Air  can  be  made  to  pafs  through  large 
Fires,  agreeable  to  the  Art  and  Direction  of 
Hippocrates6.  It  may  be  again  avoided  by  fly- 
ing to  fome  other  Part  of  the  Country,  by  paf- 
fing  over  high  Pvlountains.  Laftly,  the  Caufe 
may  be  avoided  by  correcting  the  poifonous 
Matter  itfelf,  which  has  been  already  taken  in, 
or  applied  to  the  Body. 

1  If  the  Nature  thereof  becomes  manifeft  to  the 
Senfes,  it  may  always  be  deftroyed  by  Exhalations 
of  an  oppofire  kind. 

2  Thus  the  Greeks  being  vifited  by  the  Plague 
in  the  'Trojan  War,  burnt  all  the  dead  Bodies  \  for 
all  known  Poifons  lofing  their  Force  in  the  Fire, 
therefore  the  infected  Air  likewife  depofits  its  poi- 
fonous Effluvia  by  pafling  through  Fiteor  Flame, 
whence  the  Antients  juftly  denominated  Phoebus 
the  Expelier  or  Corrector  of  Poifons.  Flence  per- 
haps arofe  the  ancient  Cuftom  of  burning  the  dead 
Bodies,  which  has  prevailed  through  Afia^  and  is 
no  doubt  an  effectual  way  to  prevent  any  pestilen- 
tial Contagion  from  Putrefaction.  But  befides 
this,  all  the  Cloaths  and  Inftruments  ought  to  be 
deftroyed  by  Fire,  which  have  at  any  time  been 
^ufed  by  People  infe&eti  with  the  Plague-,  for  the 

Fumes  raifed  by  burning  peftilentiai  Bodies  are  not 
hurtful.  But  the  Fumes  of  burning  Arfenic  taken 
in  by  the  Mouth  are  not  thus  harmlefs,  but  cer- 
tainly kill  the  Perfon. 

8  When 


3 1 8        Of  Antidotes.        §.  1 1 20* 

3  When  the  peftilential  Venom  fpread  through 
the  Air  is  of  fuch  a  Nature  that  it  excites  gan- 
grenous Sores  or  Boils,  Vinegar  ought  to  be 
fprinkled  about  the  Houfe,  and  a  Sponge  dipped 
in  it  ought  to  be  held  under  the  Nofe,  that  no  Air 
may  be  infpired  without  being  corrected  by  the 
acid  Vapours.  Hence  alfo  the  firing  of  Gunpowder 
is  fo  ufeful  upon  the  fame  occafion  \  becaufe  the 
extremely  acid  Spirit  of  Nitre  and  Sulphur,  which 
is  generated  in  the  Deflagration,  flies  abroad  and 
is  difperfed  through  the  Air.  I  knew  feveral  Fa- 
milies preferved  in  time  of  Peftilence  by  firing  a 
Dram  of  Gunpowder  feveral  times  in  a  Day  within 
the  Houfe,  after  the  Windows  and  Doors  have 
been  well  clofed.  A  certain  Well  which  by  it« 
Damp  killed  a  great  many  Workmen  at  Paris, 
was  purified  by  throwing  into  it  a  Fire  ball  or 
Hand-granade.  And  certain  it  is,  that  a  Chamber 
in  which  fo  much  Sulphur  is  burnt,  that  the  Air 
and  Fumes  may  be  tolerable  without  exciting  a 
Cough,  muft  be  an  excellent  Prefervative  in  the 
Plague.  Sulphur  therefore  juftly  deferves  the 
Name  of  fomething  Divine  in  the  Plague,  as  Hip- 
pocrates termed  it. 

4  Of  this  kind  are  the  Vapours  and  Exhalations 
fometimes  met  with  in  the  Church-yards  or  Bury- 
ing-places  in  Italy  and  I  have  myfelf  experienced 
the  like  from  the  Vapours  of  Urine  after  a  long 
Putrefaction. 

5  At  a  certain  time  when  I  was  diftjlling  Spirit 
of  Vitriol  with  a  mofl  intenfe  Fire,  fo  that  there 
came  over  a  kind  of  dry  and  blue-coloured  Phof- 
phorus,  I  made  an  Attempt,  according  to  the 
Direction  of  Belmont,  to  remove  the  Receiver:  but 
in  doing  this,  the  acid  Fumes  entered  my  Lungs 
in  breathing,  fo  that  they  would  probably  have 
fuffocated  me  in  a  Moment,  by  caufing  a  Con- 

ftriction 


§.  1 1 2 2.      Of  Antidotes.  319 

ftriction  or  Collapfion  of  the  pulmonary  Air- 
veflels  and  Cells,  if  I  had  not  been  luckily  provided 
with  fome  Spirit  of  Sal  Ammonhcum  at  hand. 

6  Hippocrates  made  great  Fires  about  the  Walls 
of  the  City  for  this  Purpofe,  that  all  the  Air  which 
was  brought  to  the  City  by  the  Winds  might  pafs 
through  the  Fire  for  certain  it  is,  that  all  the  Air 
which  pafied  through  the  Fire  muft  be  highly 
purified  :  he  therefore  firft  ordered  the  Paflages  to 
de  flopped  up  betwixt  the  Mountains  of  ltlyriay 
through  which  the  peftiiential  Air  might  pafs  into 
Greece^  well  knowing  thac  the  peftiferous  Vapours 
.  did  not  rife  very  high  above  the  Earth  ;  and  then 
he  built  Fire-places,  &c. 

§.  1 121.  The  prefent  known  Poifon  itfelf 
is  prevented  by  the  Application  of  fuch  things 
as  are  capable  of  deftroying  its  Qualities,  and 
rendering  them  unattive  \  fo  that  they  may 
not  hurt  the  Body. 

1  Even  the  viperine  Poifon  is  rendered  unactive 
by  Digeftion  in  the  Stomach  and  Bowels,  fo  that 
it  will  not  afterwards  exert  its  fad  Effects  upon  the 
Blood  ;  for  a  whole  Ounce  of  the  viperine  Venom 
taken  by  the  Mouth  will  not  kill  an  Animal,  when 
at  the  fame  time  a  fmall  Needle  only  dipped  in 
the  fame  Juice,  taking  up  perhaps  no  more  than 
,the  hundredth  part  or  a  Drop,  and  then  thruft 
into  the  Blood-veflels  of  the  living  Animal,  almoft 
infallibly  kills. 

§.  1 122.  Which  Qualities  are  as  yet  not 
known  1  in  a  great  many  Poifons,  except  only 
by  the  deleterous  Effedts  manifefting  them- 
felves3  rarely  but  by  the  death''  of  the  infected 

Perfon  ; 


1 


320         Of  Antidotes.       §.  1122. 

Perfon  -9  2.  in  others  again  they  are  difcovered 
by  wonderful  3  Appearances  hardly  to  be 
explained;  3.  in  others  4  again,  they  appear 
by  Syhiptoms  which  occur  in  other  known 
Difeafes ;  4.  and  laftly,  in  fome  Cafes  thefe 
Qualities  are  underftood  a  Priori  s,  i.  e.  from 
the  known  Texture  and  Compofition  of  the 
Poifon  as  the  Caufe,  from  whence  the  Nature 
and  Effedts.  thereof  may  be  eafily  forefeen. 

1  A  poifonous  Subftance  or  Body  is  commonly 
not  poif  nous  throughout  the  whole,  but  there  is 
only  fome  more  fpirituous  or  active  Part  of  it  en- 
dowed with  the  Nature  of  a  Poifon  :  thus  it  is  in 
mercurial  and  arfenicai  Fumes,  for  the  arfenical 
Part  being  removed,  the  reft  is  not  injurious  to  the 
Body. 

x  A  Viper  being  enraged  by  the  Members  of 
the  T'ufcan  Academy,  and  then  fuffered  to  bite  the 
Nofe  of  aftrong  Bull,  the  Animal  died  in  a  more 
time,  and  being  opened  by  the  mod  accurate  Ana- 
tomifts,  no  uncommon  Alteration  could  be  found 
either  in  the  folid  or  fluid  Parts  of  the  Bead.  An 
Air  infected  with  peftilential  Contagion  immedi- 
ately begins  to  deftroy  a  Perfon  in  Health  as  foon 
as  it  enters  the  Noftriis  ;  as  we  had  formerly  an 
Inftance  from  fome  Goods  opened  at  the  Royal 
Exchange  at  London,  where  the  People  fuddenly 
expired.  Lard,  or  any  thing  elfe  infected  with  the 
corrupt  Matter  taken  from  one  dead  of  the  Plague, 
and  applied  to  the  Skin  of  a  healthy  Perfon  fuddenly 
kills ;  as  we  are  taught  by  Inftances  at  Vienna^ 
where  the  thieving  Bearers  who  carried  out  the 
dead,  did  by  this  means  deftroy  many,  and  were 
for  their  Wickednefs  buried  alive.  There  is  a 
Method  of  writing  poifonous  Letters,  with  a 

Venom 


§.  1 1 23*      Of  Antidotes.  %2x 

Venom  which  does  notefcape  through  the  Paper; 
but  when  the  Letter  is  opened,  the  Poifonflies 
into  the  Reader's  Face  and  fuddenly  kills  him. 

1  Thus  the  whole  Panniculus  adipofus  of  a  Per- 
fon  who  has  been  bit  by  the  Seps,  fwells  and  morti- 
fies before  Death,  according  to  the  Accounts  which 
I  have  had  homAfia  and  Africa^  where  that  kind 
of  Serpent  is  at  prefent  fometimes  found. 

4  Corrofive  Sublimate  and  Arfenic  produce  Pains, 
Inflammations,  Gangrenes,  &c. 

»  Such  as  are  known  to  deftroy  the  animal  Ma- 
chine by  the  Texture  and  Difpofition  of  their  con- 
ftituent  Parts  •,  as  the  Powder  of  Diamond  or 
Glafs,  eroding  the  Inteftines. 

§.  1 123.  The  .former  of  thefe  (§.  1122.) 
which  hurt  the  whole  1  Subftance  of  the  Body, 
require  and  indicate  oppofite  Remedies,  whofe 
Efficacy  and  Effects  are  equally  known  and 
underftood  with  thofe  of  the  Poifons.  Thefe 
Remedies  are  properly  termed  Antidotes, 
Alexipharmic?,  Alexiterics,  Theriaca,  &c.  and 
can  only  be  known  by  Experience  and  the 
Hiftory  of  Poifons. 

1  The  Ancients  called  thefe  Subftances  directly 
contrary  to  human  Nature,  in  faying  which  they 
explained  nothing.  It  is  not  therefore  eafy  to  de- 
termine a  Remedy  for  the  Effects  of  any  Poifon, 
the  Caufes  of  which,  and  the  Symptoms,  do  not 
agree  with  any  thing  that  we  yet  know,  Such 
Remedies  are  to  be  fearched  for,  as  by  their  whole 
Subftance  refill  the  whole  Diieafe  ;  as  Vipers 
bruiied  and  applied  to  the  Wounds  which  they 
have  inflicted  make  a  Cure  ;  or  as  Scorpions  are 
faid  to  heal  the  Wound  whiuh  they  make  with 
Y  their 


322        Of  Antidotes.         %.  1 1 2  5. 

their  Tail,  only  by  bruifing  and  applying  them 
without  any  other  Addition.  Toads  taken  alive 
dried  and  formed  into  Paftills,  being  applied  to 
the  Body,  or  hung  about  a  Perfon  ill  of  the 
Plague,  are  efteemed  a  very  powerful  Antidote. 

§.  1 124.  Thefecond  Clafs  ofthefe  (§.1 122.) 
which  operate  by  an  unknown  1  Quality,  re- 
quire the  like  extraordinary  Remedies,  which 
are  termed  Specifics,  and  which  are  hardly  to 
be  difcovered  but  by  Accident  and  Experi- 
ment 5  to  be  treated  of  in  the  Hiftory  of  Poi- 
fons,  which  you  are  therefore  to  confult. 

1  Which  are  only  curable  by  furprizing  Alexi- 
pharmics,  of  which  we  underftand  nothing,  except 
that  they  fucceed  by  Experiment.  Thus  the  Ser- 
pent Haemorrhous  which  was  formerly,  and  is 
now  found  in  Africa^  does  by  its  Bite  occafion 
a  profufe  Haemorrhage  from  the  Lungs.  But  the 
Force  and  particular  Nature  of  this  Poifon  could 
not  be  known  by  any  but  from  Experience. 

§.1125.  The  third  Clafs  of  Poifons  (§. 
1 122.)  as  they  corrupt  the  Fabric  of  the  Body 
in  the  fame  manner  as  certain  known  Difeafes\ 
require  the  Application  of  fuch  Remedies  an  J 
Antidotes,  while  they  are  producing  the  Ef- 
fects or  Symptoms  of  fuch  Difeafes,  and  be- 
fore they  kill  the  Patient,  as  are  known  from 
Obfervation  and  Experience  to  be  faccefsful 
in  the  like  Difeafes,  which  diftinguifh  tbem- 
felvesby  EfFeds  or  Symptoms  limular  to  thofe 
pf  the  Poifons. 

1  The 


§.ii26.     Of  Antidotes.  323 

1  The  Dipfas  kills  with  Third  not  to  be  allayed 
by  any  Art;  but  I  being  acquainted  with  the 
Caufes  of  Third  in  other  Difeafes,  and  with  the 
Remedies  proper  to  extinguish  it,  do  therefore  ad- 
minifter  a  very  four  Drink,  or  Mixture  of  Vine- 
gar and  Water  i  or  if  the  Perfon  was  bit  by  the 
Seps,  I  apply  Spirit  of  Vitriol  diluted  with  Wa- 
ter to  his  whole  Body,  that  it  may  be  drank  in  by 
the  inhaling  VefTels  and  Pores  of  the  Skin,  and  I 
fhould  then  much  wonder  if  the  Patient  was  not 
cured, 

§.  1 1 26.  But  if  any  of  the  Poifons  of  the 
Fourth  and  laft  Clafs  (§.  1122.)  are  applied 
now,  or  to  be  hereafter,  to  the  Body,  then 
thofe  Medicines  ought  to  be  ufed,  which  have 
an  immediate  or  ready  1  Power  of  correcting 
and  deftroying  the  known  Malignity  ;  and 
thefe  having  commonly  an  oppofite  Malignity 
of  great  Strength,  would  therefore  equally 
hurt  the  Body,  if  the  firft  Poifon  was  not 
taken  1  into  it, 

*  For  frequently  Poifons  a6t  with  very  great 
Celerity,  and  therefore  require  immediate  Help. 

1  If  a  Perfon  has  fwallowed  an  Ounce  of  Mer- 
cury fublimate,  or  Spirit  of  Vitriol,  I  know  well 
the  Confequences  which  will  follow  from  fuch  a 
concentrated  Acid,  and  therefore  I  difiblve  two 
Ounces  of  Oil  of  Tartar  in  a  Pint  of  Water,  and 
give  the  whole  at  once  and  thus  the  Alcaly  will 
deftroy  the  corrofive  Acid,  and  turn  the  Mercury 
fublimate  into  an  yellow  inoffenfive  Precipitate: 
But  unlefs  the  Perfon  had  taken  fuch  a  Quantity 
of  Mercury  fublimate,  fo  great  a  Pofe  of  Oil  of 
Y  2  Tarcar 


324         Of  Antidotes.        § .  1 1 2  7. 

Tartar  would  have  been  equally  as  deftructive  and 
fatal,  by  caufing  a  Gangrene  in  the  Stomach. 

§.  1 1 27.  Hence  we  fee  that  the  Nature  of 
the  Poifon  is  to  be  known  from  the  natural 1 
and  medical  Hiftory  of  Poifons ;  which  joined 
with  a  mechanical  %  chemical,  and  anatomi- 
cal*  Knowledge,  will  enable  one  fufficiently 
to  fee  and  underftand  the  Effects  thence  fol- 
lowing \  andfuch  a  Knowledge  of  the  Effects, 
and  their  Connection  with  the  Caufes,  indi- 
cates or  points  out  the  proper  Remedies. 

1  It  has  been  cuftomary  with  the  Phyficians, 
but  very  wrongly,  to  reduce  Poifons  only  to  one 
Oafs  for  fome  of  them  acT:  by  a  known  Force  in 
the  Prima  Via^  corroding  and  deftroying  the  foft 
Parts  by  the  mechanical  Configuration  of  their 
Subftance,  as  the  Powder  of  Diamond  or  Glafs  ; 
others  again  exert  their  Virulence  upon  the  Lungs, 
as  the  Vapours  of  Arfenic,  Spirit  of  Vitriol,  &c. 
Nicander  has,  indeed,  behaved  better  in  this  re- 
fpect,  by  dividing  Poifons  into  feveral  Claries, 
fome  of  which  he  has  explained,  and  defcribed  their 
Symptoms,  and  of  others  he  has  only  remarked 
their  fatal  Events.  Dtafcorides,  more  efpecially, 
has  illuftrated  the  Hiftory  of  Poifons,  who  being 
a  Soldier,  fpared  neither  Coft  nor  Labour,  to  at- 
tain the  Knowledge  of  the  Materia  Medica  through- 
out all  the  known  Parts  of  the  World  \  and  he 
has  therefore  left  us  an  Account  almoft  of  every 
Antidote  or  Counter-poifon. 

-  The  Powder  of  Diamonds  operates  only  by 
the  rigid  Edges,  Points,  or  Angles,  of  its  Frag- 
ments like  Giafs,  which  cut  and  irritate  the  foft 

and 


§.  1 129.'      Of  Antidotes:  325 

and  fenfible  Membranes  ;  nor  does  it  hurt  by  its 
Coldnefs,  as  the  Antiehts  imagined,  but  only  inaf- 
much  as  it  produces  the  Effects  of  a  great  Number 
of  wounding  Inftruments.  Related  to  this  in 
Action,  we  find  the  Hairs  cut  off  from  the  Nofe 
of  a  Tiger,  which  being  cut  fmall  and  given  in 
the  Food,  do  by  their  Rigidity,  infinuate  into  the 
fiefhy  Membranes  of  the  Interlines,  where  caufing 
an  Ulceration,  they  kill  (lowly,  and  with  a  Con- 
fumption  •,  nor  can  any  Medicine  be  given  in  this 
Cafe,  fince  we  know  not  of  any  capable  of  dif- 
folving  Hairs. 

3  But  notwithstanding  all  our  Skill  in  thefe  Par- 
ticulars, there  is  too  much  of  the  Nature  of  many 
Poifons  {till  unknown  to  us :  For  who  will  pre- 
tend to  fay  in  what  manner  the  Particles  of  pefti- 
Jential  Poifon  are  modified  as  alfo  in  the  Rabies 
canina,  and  many  more  contagious  Difeafes  ?  The 
Effects  indeed,  we  know,  but  are  ignorant  of  the 
manner  in  which  they  are  brought  about  by  the 
Operation  of  the  Poifon. 

§.  1128.  And  by  the  Indication  derived 
from  this  Knowledge  (§.  1127.}  we  are  direct- 
ed to  the  Remedies  for  correcting  thefe  de- 
ftructive  Materials  ;  and  we  are  alfo  thence 
acquainted  with  the  Preparation,  Dofe,  Appli- 
cation, and  Regimen,  proper  to  be  obferved. 

§.  1 1 29.  But  the  principal  and  mod  com- 
mon Antidotes  againft  almoft  every  Poifon, 
and  which  are  therefore  of  the  greateft  Ufe, 
when  we  know  Poifon  to  be  given,  without  un- 
derftanding  its  particular  Nature  1  and  Action, 
are  chiefly  thefe  following:  Pure  Water,  made 

Y  3  a  little 


326         Of  Antidotes.        §.  1129, 

a  little  warmer  than  the  healthy  Heat  of  one's 
Blood,  injected  as  a  Clyfter,  drank  plentiful- 
ly, and  continued  for  a  long  time,  as  alfo  ex- 
ternally applied ;  next  to  this  comes  a  mild 
Lixivium  %  made  of  common   Water  and 
Venice  Soap,  ufed  in  the  like  Quantity,  Man- 
ner, and  Length  of  Time,  as  the  former  ; 
or  elfe  common  Water  may  be  rendered  fapo- 
naceous  with  Oxymel,  and  ufed  as  before  >  to 
tbefe  add  foft  Oils  3  lately  exprefled  from 
Milk,  oily  and  farinaceous  Seeds,  immediately 
drank  in  large  Quantities  for  a  confiderable 
time,  alfo  injected,  and  applied  externally,  or 
the  like  fat  Oils  lately  prepared  by  boiling  from 
Animals 4  with  a  great  deal  of  Water,  and 
not  too  long  continued  upon  the  Fire  ;  and 
laftly,  in  many  quick  Poifons  the  like  Ufe  of 
Vinegar ;  and  finally,   of  Opium  5.    But  ar 
general6  Antidote,  or  preventative  Counter- 
poifon  effectual  in  all  Cafes,  we  are  as  yet 
altogether  ignorant  of,  nor  is  it  reafonable 
to  believe  a  Poffibility  of  there  being  any 
fuch. 

»  When  I  know  from  the  irregular  Symptoms 
appearing  that  a  Perfon  is  poifoned,  without  being 
acquainted  with  the  kind  of  the  Poifon  taken, 
which  ought  to  direct  me  to  the  proper  Antidote, 
and  in  the  mean  time,  the  urgent  Maladies  admit 
of  no  relay,  in  that  Cafe  the  common  Antidotes 
mui  in  La  '  ny  ufed  and  therefore  I  continually 
adrniniifef  warn.  Water  in  moderate  Draughts  to 
the  ityoi  Virty  Pounds,  by  which  means  I 

drc  poiiuiiOUS  or  cauftic  Saks  in  the  -great 

Quantities 


§.1129.       Of  Antidotes.  327 

Quantities  of  diluting  Liquor.  The  happy  Ef- 
fects of  this  Method  appear  from  a  notable  In- 
ftance  given  us  by  Sydenham  in  the  Servant  of  an 
Apothecary,  who  having  fwallowed  a  Quantity 
of  Mercury  fublimate,  was  cured  by  an  immediate 
and  plentiful  drinking  of  warm  Water,  with  warm 
Bathing,  Fomentations,  and  watery  Clyfters.  Nor 
ought  we  to  defift  from  pouring  in  Water  at 
every  Part,  without  excepting  the  Pudenda  mulie- 
bria,  till  we  are  certain  that  the  Force  of  the  Poi- 
fon  is  fufficiently  diluted,  to  prevent  it  from  doing 
further  Mifchief.  One  Dram  of  Mercury  fubli- 
mate is  mortal  but  the  lame  being  diluted  in 
twenty-five  Pounds  of  Water,  may  be  taken  with- 
out Injury:  For  Water  takes  off  the  Strength  or 
Force  of  all  Poifons  which  are  difpofed  to  dif- 
folve  or  mix  with  that  Menftruum  but  then 
fome  Poifons  which  are  fulphureous,  as  Arfenic, 
refufe  Water,  and  diffolve  in  Oil. 

1  About  one  Ounce  of  Venice  Soap  diflblved 
in  a  Pint  of  Water. 

3  Frelh  Butter  is  a  prefent  Remedy  for  all  forts 
of  Poifon,  as  alfo  fweet  and  frefh  Oil  taken  in  fo 
great  a  Quantity  as  to  Joofen  the  Bojwels  ;  but 
more  efpecially  are  thefe  effectual  againft  Arfe- 
nic. With  this  a  certain  Mountebank  was  well 
acquainted,  who  being  to  fhew  the  Efficacy  of  his 
Orvietan  or  Counter-poifon  in  Oppofition  to  a 
Brother  Antagonift,  firft  prepared  himfelf  by  de- 
vouring a  great  Quantity  of  Butter,  which  kept 
him  from  receiving  any  Injury  by  the  Arfenic ; 
but  the  other  taking  the  Arfenic  into  his  Body  un- 
prepired,  and  confiding  in  his  Orvietan,  miferably 
perifhed.  This  is  alfo  a  principal  Antidote  againft 
the  Fragments  of  Diamond,  Glafsy  Briftles  of  a 
Tiger,  &c.  by  relaxing  the  Bowels,  and  defending 
them  from  the  Afperities  of  thefe  Subftances. 

Y  4.  Of 


328         Of  Antidotes.       §.  1130, 

4  Of  this  Nature  is  the  Cream  of  Milk. 

5  Opium  does  not  indeed  deftroy  the  Action 
of  any  Poifon,  but  it  allays  the  Symptoms  and 
convulfive  Motions  which  the  Poifon  has  rai fed. 
Hence  we  read  it  fo  much  recommended  by  jD/>/- 
corides.  For  we  are  to  confider  that  no  Poifon  is 
fo  in  itfelf,  nor  does  it  prove  mifchievous  farther 
than  it  is  actuated  by  the  Vis  Vit<e ;  in  the  fame 
manner  as  if  I  hold  a  thoufand  Lancets  loofely  in 
my  Hand  without  any  Motion,  they  do  no  hurt ; 
but  if  I  grafp  their  Points  by  moving  the  Muf- 
cles  of  that  Part,  they  will  immediately  make  a 
Number  of  Wounds  on  every  Side.  Thus  there- 
fore Opium  may  be  an  Antidote  by  quieting  the 
vital  Powers,  and  preventing  them  from  putting 
the  Poifon  in  Action.' 

6  It  is  even  ridiculous  to  attempt  at,  or  fearch 
after,  an  Antidote  to  equally  oppofe  all  Poifons ; 
which  fhall  deftroy  the  cauftic  Virulence  of  acid 
Spirits,  and  of  ftrong  Alcalies,  as  Oil  of  Tartar 
and  Spirit  of  Vitriol  -s  or  which  fhall  prevail  againft 
the  Bite  tof  the  Viper,  find  the  wounding  -Frag- 
ments of  Glais  or  Adamant.  It  is  true  that 
Mithridate,  Orvietans,  iyc.  are  ufually  fold  for 
univerfal  Alexipharmics  %  butthefe  are  rarely  fer- 
viceable  but  for  venomous  Bites  or  Stings,  and 
will  avail  nothing  againft  the  forementioned  Cau,- 
ftics  or  wounding  Fragments. 

§.  1  [30.  But  in  giving  particular  Antidotes, 
the  greateft  Judgment  and  Caution  are  ne- 
ceffary,  fince  they  have  a  fingular  Virtue  of 
correcting  this  or  that  Poifon  only,  and  have 
Other  wife,  in  their  own  way,  as  great  or  even 
more  violent  Effects  than  the  Poifon  which 
they.. oppofe.   Thefe  Oppofites  therefore  con- 


§.  1 1 3 1 .  Of  Antidotes.  329 
rcurring  together  in  the  Body,  mutually  de- 
ftroy  each  other,  and  becoming  unaftive,  of- 
fer but  little  Injury  to  the  Body  itfelf ;  whereas 
if  given  alone,  they  are  often  equally  as  de- 
finitive \  as  the  Poifons  themfelves,  which 
they  are  defigned  to  correct. 

1  ManyCompofitionsareferviceableand  falutaryv 
when  the  Simples  given  feparate  would  be  poifon- 
ous  thus  Oil  of  Vitriol,  and  Oil  of  Tartar,  do 
either  of  them  alone  burn  up  and  deftroy  the 
Stomach  by  a  Gangrene,  but  being  mixed  toge- 
ther, they  compofe  an  innocent  vitriolated  Tartar, 
very  efficacious  in  chronical  Difeafes. 

§.  1 131.  But  all  thefe  Antidotes,  whether 
univerfal  (§.  1129.)  or  particular  (§.  11 30.) 
may,  and  ought  to  be  fo  prepared,  ufed,  and 
applied,  as  to  take  a  fudden  and  fpeedy  Courfe, 
without  altering  their  Powers,  into  the  Parts 
themfelves  where  the  Poifon  is  lodged  and 
there  to  correct  %  it:  And  therefore  the  Phy- 
fician  ought  always  to  have  in  Remembrance 
the  whole  Clafs 3  of  theje  feveral  Applications ; 
of  which  the  principal  are,  Fumigations  of 
the  Air,  dry  or  moift  Vapours  conveyed  to 
the  Lungs,  Draughts,  Glifters,  Epithems, 
Baths,'  Fomentations,  and  Injections,  for  the 
Uterus,  Bladder,  Fauces,  &c. 

1  The  Remedies  ought  always  to  be  applied  by 
thofe  Ways  through  which  the  Poifons  entered  ; 
as  if  their  Vapours  have  penetrated  the  Brain,  the 
Antidote  fhould  be  applied  by  the  Noftrils  j  if  it  is 
taken  through  the  Mouth  into  the  Stomach,  Alexi- 
pharmics  are  to  be  fwallowed  the  fame  Way. 

All 


33°         Of  -Antidotes       §•  1132.; 

*  All  Acids,  except  Vinegar,  injected  into  the 
Veins  of  a  living  Animal,  coagulate  the  Blood, 
whence  a  Peripneumony  and  Death  follows.  If 
therefore  I  know  that  an  acid  Poifon  has  penetra- 
ted into  the  Veins,  (as  if  too  great  a  Quantity  of 
Oil  of  Vitriol  has  been  externally  applied  to  fup- 
prefs  an  Hemorrhage)  then  the  fafeft  Antidote 
would  be  to  make  a  Ligature  upon  the  Vein  above 
the  Part  where  the  Poifon  was  infufed,  that  its 
Virulence  may  not  penetrate  to  the  Heart  *,  and 
after  the  Vein  has  been  thus  fecured  by  Ligature, 
to  make  an  Opening  below  it  by  the  Lancet,  to 
evacuate  the  next  fucceeding  infected  Blood.  In 
this  Cafe  Antacids  taken  by  the  Mouth  would 
have  no  Effect,  becaufe  they  would  be  changed 
and  altered  in  their  Nature  through  the  long  Gourfe 
which  they  muft  take  with  the  Humours,  Chyle 
and  Blood,  before  they  could  arrive  at  the  Part  to 
which  they  are  deftined. 

3  If  I  know  a  Perfon  has  taken  Arfenic,  I  en- 
quire at  what  Time  or  Hour  ;  and  if  I  am  told  that 
it  was  fix  Hours  before,  I  attempt  nothing,  being 
afTbred  that  the  Cafe  is  paft  all  Remedy  :  but  if  it 
was  taken  only  a  few  Minutes  before,  I  caufe  the 
Patient  to  fwallow  feveral  Pints  of  fweet  Oil,  and 
afterwards  give  a  large  Dofe  of  Vitriolum  album 
to  enter  the  Stomach.  But  if  I  mould  be  called 
half  an  Hour  after  the  Poifon  was  taken,  and  find 
by  the  Gripes  and  Diftenfion  about  the  Navel,  that 
the  Difeafe  is  extended  into  the  Inteflines,  I  then 
order  large  Quantities  of  Oil  to  be  injected  in  the 
way  of  Clyfter. 

§.  1 132.  The  received  1  Poifon  is  expelled 
from  the  Body,  i .  By  leffening  the  Refiftance 
in  that  Part,  through  which  it  may  be  moft 

fafely 


§.1132.  Of  Antidotes.  331 
fafely  evacuated  with  the  lead  Injury  to  the 
vital  Vifcera,  and  where  it  may  have  the 
quickeft  Paffage ;  under  which  Circumftinces 
it  may  be  drove  to,  and  expelled  at  fuch  a 
Part  by  the  Force  and  Efficacy  of  the  vital 
Powers  afiifted  by  proper  Medicines.  This 
Method  was  formerly  taken  with  great  Indus- 
try by  the  incomparable  Redi,  by  fucking  with 
the  Mouth,  which  was  the  Province  of  the 
Mar/i,  and  Pfylli,  whofe  Bodies  were  faid  to 
be  Proof  againft  Poifons  -y  but  at  prefent  it  is 
performed  by  the  Application  of  large  Cup- 
ping-glaffes  frequently  renewed,  and  well  eva- 
cuated of  the  Air,  by  applying  them  with 
much  Flame,  as  alfo  by  the  Application  of 
warm  and  very  emollient  Fomentations,  with 
Leaches,  Scarifications,  Fri&ions,  Emplafters, 
and  external  Warmth.  2.  By  a  magnetical1 
Attra&ion  with  Bodies  drawing  forth  thePoi- 
fon  by  a  particular  Virtue,  and  freeing  the  Pa- 
tient in  the  Manner  we  are  told,  of  the  Fleili 
of  the  poifonous  Beajl  4,  of  the  Stone  Seraftis, 
and  of  the  Serpent  or  Toadftone,  ©V.  3 .  By 
the  Ufe  of  all  Medicines  which  powerfully  di- 
lute and  move  the  Humours fuch  as  fpeedy 
Vomits,  quick  Purges,  ftrong  Sudorifics,  and 
perhaps  diluent  Diuretics ;  whence  T)iafcordi- 
urn  s,  Mithridate,  Theriaca  or  Venice  Treacle, 
the  Orvietans  and  Opiate  Confedlions  are  found 
ferviceable,  though  they  cannot  fafely  be  truft- 
ed  to  as  univerfal  curative  or  preventative  An- 
tidotes. 4,  and  laftly,  By  a  very  fpeedy  Re- 
moval *  of  the  Part  itfelf  poifoned,  that  it  may 

not 


332  Of  Antidotes?  §.1132. 
not  infeft  the  reft,  and  which  is  beft  done  by 
the  adtual  Cautery. 

1  The  Poifon  is  received  and  fpread  always  by 
the  Veins,  and  not  by  the  Arteries,  in  which  the 
Courfe  and  Direction  of  the  Humours  refill  the 
Entrance  of  any  kind  of  Particles. 

*  The  Greek  and  Roman  Armies  marching  into 
Africa  met  with  Legions  of  poifonous  Animals, 
whereby  more  of  the  Soldiers  were  deftroyed  than 
by  the  Enemy.  In  this  Cafe  they  applied  to  a  Set 
of  People  called  Marji  and  Pfylliy  to  whom  they 
gave  Salaries  for  recovering  the  poifoiied  Soldiers 
by  fucking  the  injured  Part  'till  it  fwelled  and 
looked  red,  by  which  means  the  Difeafed  com- 
monly recovered,  and  were  certain  to  perim  if 
this  was  neglecled.  From  hence  thefe  People  were 
reputed  to  be  an  Antidote  in  themfelves,  it  being 
the  prevailing  Notion,  that  Poifons  which  kill  by 
Bites  or  Wounds,  would  alfokill  when  taken  by  the 
Mouth.  But  Cato9  being  wifer  than  this,  and  con- 
vinced by  the  Experiments  of  the  Marfi9  when  the 
Soldiers  durft  not  drink  of  a  Fountain,  becaufe 
they  were  frighten'd  at  the  Beads  which  perhaps 
lay  concealed  therein,  cried  out  to  them, 

Morfus  virum  habent  &?  fatum  dente  minantur 
Pocula  rncrte  carent*  Lucan, 

and  was  the  firft,  contrary  to  the  ufual  Cuftom, 
who  took  a  Draught  of  the  Water  out  of  his  Hel- 
met. This  Opinion  of  Cato  is  confirmed  by  the 
Experiment  of  Jacobus  Cozzy>  who  at  the  Court  of 
the  Great  Duke  of  Tufcany  licked  up  with  Intre- 
pidity a  whole  Dram  of  the  poifonous  Juice  expref- 
fed  from  the  Jaws  of  a  Viper  without  any  confe- 
quent  Injury  ,  when  at  the  fame  time  it  is  certain, 


§.  1 1 3 2«      Of  jJ?2tidote!.  333 

that  if  only  the  hundredth  Part  of  a  Grain  had  en- 
ter'd  into  the  Blood  without  Alteration,  it  would 
have  caufed  fpeedy  Death. 

3  There  are  enough  Writers  who  refute  all  this 
but  in  Italy,  where  there  are  abundance  of  Scor- 
pions, one  cannot  enter  an  Inn,  but  the  Hoft  mews 
you  a  VefTel  full  of  the  Oil  of  Scorpions,  with 
which  the  Wound  made  by  that  Beaft  is  always 
anointed,  and  the  Danger  of  Death  by  that  means 
prevented.  I  have  in  my  own  Pofieffion  a  fmall 
Stone  brought  from  the  Eaft-Indies,  concerning 
which  they  who  fent  it  affirm,  that  if  this  Stone  is 
applied  to  a  Perfon  bit  by  that  molt  dangerous  Vi- 
per called  Cobra  de  Capello,  by  the  Natives  Brill- 
Jiang,  it  adheres  to  and  draws  out  the  Poifon  from 
the  Wound  ,  with  which  being  faturated,  it  falls 
off  fpontaneoufly,  and  will  difcharge  its  Poifon 
by  infufing  it  in  new  Milk  ;  and  if  applied,  will 
adhere  and  fuck  'till  the  Patient  is  out  of  danger  ; 
whereas  it  will  not  in  the  leaft  adhere  to  the  Skin 
of  a  Perfon  who  has  not  been  bit.  Thus  alfo 
dried  Toads  do  by  a  kind  of  Sympathy  attract  the 
peftilential  Contagion.  It  fignifies  nothing  here 
to  change  the  Words,  which  we  eafily  may  for  the 
worfe. 

4  Such  as  the  Flefh  and  Greafe  of  Vipers,  and 
the  Theriaca  Andromachi,  in  which  Viper's  Flem 
is  an  Ingredient. 

5  Thefe  are  efficacious  when  the  Poifon  being 
volatile  and  moveable  requires  to  be  expelled  from 
the  Center  to  the  Circumference,  and  to  be  that 
way  difcharged  through  the  Skin  by  exciting  a  Fe- 
ver. But  thefe  Medicines  would  be  very  impro- 
perly ufed  againft  the  more  fixed  mineral  Poifons, 
which  would  by  the  Ufe  of  fuch  Remedies  beren- 
der'd  more  moveable  and  fierce  in  their  AcTion. 

Nothing 


334-         Of  Antidotes.       §.  1 1 3  4  j 

4  Nothing  is  a  more  prefent  Remedy  either  for 
the  Bite  of  a  mad  or  a  venomous  Animal,  than  in- 
llantly  to  cauterize  the  Part  with  a  hot  Iron, 
which  is  a  Practice  fo  highly  recommended  by 
Hippocrates  for  removing  the  Gout  in  the  Hip ; 
or  elfe  the  bitten  Part  may  be  burnt  up  by  the  Ap- 
plication of  Oil  of  Vitriol,  or  elfe  amputated,  ex- 
cept the  Poifon  mould  be  extremely  fwift  and  apt 
to  fpread  \  as  the  Poifon  which  was  pofleffed  by  a 
certain  Indian  King,  with  which  he  gave  a  notable 
Inftance  to  the  Spaniards  how  dangerous  an  Ene- 
my he  might  be :  for  he  did  but  juft  puncture  the 
End  of  one  of  the  Toes  of  a  healthy  Youth  with 
the  Point  of  an  Arrow,  and  then  order'd  the  Sur- 
geons prefent  to  inftantly  amputate  the  Leg  at  the 
Knee  ;  by  which  it  appeared  to  the  Spanijh  Am- 
baffadors,  that  this  was  not  fufficient  to  prevent 
the  Effects  of  the  Poifon,  which  they  faw  never- 
thetefs  immediately  deftroyed  the  unhappy  Youth. 

§.  1133.  The  cruel  Symptoms  and  fenfible 
Effedts  of  Poifons  may  eafily  be  reduced  in- 
to Gaffes,  according  to  the  Doctrine  of  Patho- 
logy before  given ;  and  then  each  of  them 
may  be  treated  as  if  they  were  particular  Dif- 
eafes,  as  we  (hall  hereafter  explain* 

§.  1134.  The  Body  may  be  armed  or  de- 
fended againfl  any  Poifon' to  be  applied  there- 
to, chiefly  r.  by  the  plentiful  Ufe  of  the  gene- 
ral 1  and  particular  Antidotes,  which  are  on- 
ly fafe  when  the  Nature  of  the  Poifon  is  firft 
known,  that  one  may  thence  previoufly  un- 
der ft  and  what  is  to  be  applied  -y  2.  by  anoint- 
ing the  Part  of  the  Body  where  the  Poifon  is 

feared 


§.  1 1 3  4.       Of  Antidotes.  335 

feared  with  Remedies  mild  and  oily  *  •  3.  by- 
keeping  all  Parts  of  the  Body  in  an  equable  % 
JPerfpiration.  But  there  is  not  yet  any  univer- 
fal*  Antidote  known,  which  can  be  fafely  re- 
lied upon,  as  we  before  obferved  (§.  1129.) 
though  a  great  many  have  boafted  of  fuch. 

'  When  you  are  to  enter  any  Place  which  you 
fufpect  poifonous  or  infected,  it  is  advifeable  to 
drink  firft  as  much  Hydromel  or  Mead,  as  will 
almoft  make  one  dropfical. 

1  One  who  is  to  vifit  Patients  in  the  time  of  a 
Plague,  cannot  fecure  himfelf  better,  than  by  firft 
anointing  his  Body  naked  with  Oil  before  a  Fire, 
and  then  breathing  the  Air  through  a  Sponge 
which  has  been  dipped  in  the  bed  Wine  Vinegar ; 
by  which  means  the  Pores  will  be  clofed  or  filled 
up,  and  the  Ingrefs  of  a  putrid  or  contagious  Air 
prevented  from  taking  up  its  Seat  in  the  Lungs, 
Saliva  and  Stomach.  But  as  to  a  preventative 
Diet  in  this  Diflemper,  I  hardly  know  any  ;  but 
am  apt  to  believe,  that  keeping  the  Stomach  emp- 
ty will  give  a  better  Opportunity  of  difcharging 
the  peftilential  Virus  at  times  by  a  gentle  Vomit, 
as  it  is  chiefly  fwallowed  with  the  Air  and  falival 
Humours  of  the  Mouth. 

1  Nothing  keeps  the  Body  more  fecure  from 
peftilential  Difeafes,  than  by  frequently  bathing  it 
all  over  with  Salt,  Vinegar  and  Water,  and  keep- 
ing up  a  copious  Perfpiration.  Sylvius  was  con- 
cerned in  three  Plagues,  and  preferved  his  Health 
in  all  of  them,  only  warning  his  Mouth  with  Vi- 
negar in  a  Morning,  and  always  carrying  a  Sponge 
.  dipped  in  Vinegar  under  his  Nofe  :  (it  might  be 
alfo  ufeful  to  moiften  the  outer  Garments  witn  Vi- 
negar, according  to  the  Advice  of  Diemsrbroeck)  \ 

but 


3  3  6         Of  Antidotes.       %.  1 1 3  6 . 

but  he  having  once  forgot  his  Vinegar,  was  infected 
with  the  Plague,  though  he  efcaped,  according  to 
his  own  Relation. 

4  Mitbridates,  in  whofe  Time  Affenic  was  not 
known,  eafily  found  a  Remedy  for  animal  Poifons, 
which  only  he  feared  ;  but  his  Alexipharmics  ufed 
againft  Mercury  fublimate,  Arfenic  or  Salt  of  Tar- 
tar, would  rather  increafe  than  mitigate  their  Vio- 
lence. Thefe  Acids  are  to  be  allayed  by  Alcalies 
or  Bole-earths ;  and  the  Alcalies  are  to  be  allayed 
by  the  Ufe  of  Acids  and  Oils. 

§.1135.  What  has  been  hitherto  faid  of 
Poifons  (§.  1119  to  1135.)  may  be  likewife 
underftood  of  the  Plague,  Contagion,  and 
other  particular  Poifons ;  which  yet  may  be 
better  underftood  from  the  following  {hort, 
but  juft  Account  of  the  principal  Poifons,  and 
their  Antidotes. 

§.1136.  Some  Poifons  may  be  referred  to  a 
manifeft  Acrimony  of  a  particular  kind,  which 
is  inflammatory,  cauftic,  and  productive  of  a 
Gangrene  with  Putrefaction  :  fuch  are  chiefly 
Cobalt,  yellow  Arfenic,  red  Arfenic,  white 
fublimed  Arfenic,  Realgar,  Armenia?!  Stone, 
Lapis  lazuli  \  Thefe  applied  either  externally 
or  internally,  inflame,  corrode  and  exite 
Pains,  inflammatory  Heats  and  Drinefs,  firft 
in  the  Part  affected,  and  then  throughout 
the  whole  Body;  hence  follow  the  mod  acute 
inflammatory  Difeafes  in  the  Fauces,  Oefo- 
phagus,  Stomach,  and  Inteftines,  whence 
Naufeas,  Vomitings,  Dyfenteries,  Cholera  mor- 
bus, 


§.  1 1 3  6 .       Of  A?itidotes.  337 

bus,  iliac  Paffion  and  Inflation  of  the  Bowels, 
a  Palenefs  and  livid  Colour  2  of  the  Face  and 
Skin,  Vertigoes,  Convulfions  and  Death  ;  or 
if  that  is  avoided,  a  Palenefs,  Palfy,  and  Con- 
traction or  withering  of  the  whole,  or  parti- 
cular Parts  of  the  Body.  Thefe  indicate  the 
Ufe  of  warm  Water  a  little  acidulated  or  mixed 
with  Honey,  ufed  freely  plentifully  5  for 
a  long  time,  for  drinking,  injecting  and  bath- 
ing. But  if  it  can  be  eje&ed  by  Vomit  4  and 
Stool,  it  is  fo  much  the  better,  and  thofe 
Evacuations  ought  to  be  the  more  freely  en- 
couraged. Fat  Broths,  Milk,  Oils,  Butter, 
and  oily  Subftances  are  next  ufeful ;  and  then 
it  will  be  necefTary  to  continue  a  long  time 
in  the  Ufe  of  Laxatives,  emollient,  oily  and 
acidulous  Liquors  drank  internally,  and  ufed 
for  bathing  externally. 

1  This  Scone  I  fee  in  a  Book  publifhed  under 
my  Name,  by  a  monftrous  Error  prefcribed  to 
the  Quantity  of  a  whole  Dram,  for  a  Dofe  to 
purge  Melancholy,  when  in  reality  I  always  taught 
with  the  utmoft  Caution,  that  it  fhould  never 
be  given  to  above  half  a  Grain.  The  Poiions 
here  mentioned,  are  by  a  certain  Italian  termed 
Vcnena  Germanica,  and  excite  fuch  Symptoms  as 
plainly  point  out  to  the  Phyfician  what  is  necefTary 
to  be  done  for  their  Cure,  and  they  likewife  give 
time  for  the  Ufe  of  Medicines  •,  for  they  inflame 
the  Throat,  CEfophagus,  Stomach  and  Interlines, 
and  burn  up  the  Skin  into  a  Scab  wherever  they 
are  applied  •,  but  the  fame  Author  obferves,  that 
the  Italians  have  their  Poifons  of  this  kind  much 

Z  more 


338  Of  Antidotes.       §.  1 1 3  7 . 

more  powerful  and  volatile  in  Fumes,  whence 
they  are  called  Superlative, 

z  Arfenic  more  efpecially  does  ufually  make  a 
livid  Circle  about  the  Mouth  and  Eyes. 

3  If  I  am  called  to  a  Perfon  who  has  fwallowed 
Arfenic,  and  find  him  already  livid,  I  order 
twelve  Pints  of  warm  honeyed  Water  to  be  drank 
every  Day  for  three  Days  iucceffively  ;  and  Clyf- 
ters  of  the  like  kind  are  to  be  ufed.  If  this 
Method  is  not  taken,  the  Difeafe  will  ftick  by 
the  Patient  as  long  as  he  lives :  but  when  the  Pa- 
tient is  paft  the  danger  of  Death,  the  remaining 
Diforder  may  be  treated  at  leifure.  But  the  Acri- 
mony of  thefe  Poifons,  ufually  leave  behind  them 
Effects  varying  according  to  the  Nature  of  this 
or  that  Vifcus,  which  they  have  more  particularly 
injured. 

♦  Half  a  Dram  of  Vitriolum  Album  is  to  be 
exhibited  for  a  Vomit,  working  it  with  warm 
Water  *,  and  then  the  Patient  muft  be  continually 
pouring  down  more  warm  Water  or  a  watery 
Drink. — This  is  a  fure  and  never-failing  Method, 
without  which  the  Patient  cannot  be  laved  •,  for 
Theriaca  and  all  the  other  Alexipharmics  as  yet 
known,  are  mere  Trifles  in  fuch  Cafes. 

§.  1 13  7.  Vegetable  Poifons  like  unto  the 
Nature  of  the  former,  (§.1136.)  are  princi- 
pally the  Accmita>  \  Anacardium,  Anemone, 
Apium  rifus,  Jpocynum  %  Arum,  Aze- 
darach,  Cataputia,  Chamaelaea  tricoccos, 
Chamaeieon  niger, ,  Clematitis,  Colchicum, 
Corona  Imperialis,  Cyclaminum,  Dracon- 
tium,  Elaterium,  Efuia,  Euphorbium,  Flos 
Africanus,  Grana  Nubis,  Helleborus  albus, 

niger 


§.1138.      Of  Antidotes.  339 

niger  &  viridis,  Hermodactyli,  Hyacinthi, 
Laureola,  Mezeraeum,  Mel  venenantum,  Na- 
pellus,  Nigella  fylveftris,  Oleander,  Ranun- 
culi, Ricinus,  Scammoneum  ;  oily  Seeds  ren- 
dered rancid  and  acrimonious  by  corrupting 
and  long  keeping;  to  which  add,  Tithymali, 
Thapfia,  &c.  The  Effects  and  Indications  of 
all  thefe  are  much  like  the  former,  (§.  1136.) 
and  therefore  require  the  fame  Treatment* 

■  All  thefe  greatly  diflblve  the  Blood  and  in- 
flame the  folid  Parts.  The  Aconitum  produces 
in  the  Fauces  a  Quinfy,  and  in  the  Stomach  a 
Phlegmon,  which  generally  terminates  in  a  fatal 
Gangrene. 

z  Honey  is  a  fort  of  Sugar  gathered  from 
Flowers  but  if  the  Bees  prepare  their  Honey 
from  the  Apocynum  Syriacum,  which  ufualiy 
kills  Flies,  then  the  Virulency  of  the  Flowers  will 
be  lodged  in  the  Honey,  and  (hew  its  Effects,  more 
efpecially  while  the  Honey  is  new ;  for  as  this 
Virulency  is  altogether  volatile,  it  exhales  and 
leaves  the  Floney  as  it  grows  old. 

§.  113S,  There  are  (2.)  2Mb  other  1  violent 
and  (harp  Poifons,  but  fuch  as  being  at  the 
fame  time  vifcous,  adhere  to  the  Stomach, 
and  by  Confent  affect  the  Brain  and  nervous 
Syftem  in  a  particular  manner.  Such  are 
Chryfomela,  Cicuta  2  major,  minor  Petrofe- 
lino  fimilis,  &  aquatica  Gefneri ;  Hue  ob  aliain 
caufam  refer  crocurn  ;  Datyra,  Hyofcamus, 
Nux  vomica,  Oenanthe  apii  folio,  fucco  vi- 
rofo,  Opium,  Solanum,  6c  Melanocerafos ': 
from  whence  follow  Vertigoes  or  Giddinef, 

Z  2  with 


3  4-0  Of  Antidotes.  §.1138, 

with  a  Lofs  of  Sight,  Deliriums,  Ravings  \ 
Naufeas,  Vomitings,  Dyfenteries,  horrid 
Convulfions,  Apoplexies,  and  Death.  Thefe 
indicate  the  immediate  Ufe  of  powerful  Vo- 
mits, and  the  fpeedy  drinking  of  large  Quan- 
tities of  watery,  oily,  honeyed  and  acidulated 
Drinks,  frequently  repeated  as  a  Drink,  and 
applied  in  the  way  of  Clyfter  and  as  a  warm 
Bath.  When  the  Diftemper  is  by  thefe 
means  allayed,  it  will  he  convenient  to  Sweat 
frequently  and  plentifully,  by  the  Ufe  of  the 
feveral  forts  of  Theriaca ;  and  the  Patient 
muft  be  kept  up  to  an  emollient  and  thin 
Diet. 

1  Thefe  Poifons  are  really  wonderful.  When 
the  ttrongeft  and  wife  ft  Man,  upon  whom  alone 
fometimes  depends  the  Happinefs  of  a  whole 
Kingdom,  has  taken  but  a  little  of  one  of  thefe 
Poifons,  his  Senfes  are  deftroyed,  and  he  is  thrown 
into  Convulfions  throughout  the  whole  nervous 
Syftem,  as  foon  as  ever  the  Poifon  begins  to  touch 
•he  Membranes  of  the  Stomach  nor  is  there  any 
extraordinary  Difeafe  but  what  fome  Poifon  or 
other  can  produce. 

*  From  hence  the  Solanum  Maniacum  takes  its 
Name. 

3  I  faw  eight  Children  who  had  eat  Hemlock  ; 
they  were  delirious,  almoft  fuffocated  with  a 
Quinfy,  vomited  and  convulfed  every  one  of 
them.  I  immediately  gave  them  Vitriolum  Al- 
bum, after  which  all  thofe  who  vomited  were  re- 
covered. But  when  People  are  fo  convulfed  in 
this  Cafe,  that  they  cannot  fwallow,  one  ought  to 
have  a  flexible  metalline  Tube,  made  like  the 
flexible  Catheter,  which  bring  conveyed  over  the 

Tongue 


§.H39a      Of  Aittidotes.  34.1 

Tongue  clofe  by  the  Membrane  which  lines  the 
anterior  Face  of  the  Vertebra,  may  be  thruft  from 
thence  into  the  Stomach,  where  by  fuch  a  Tube 
a  Vomit  or  other  Medicine  may  be  conveyed.  As 
foon  as  the  Patient  vomits  he  ufually  comes  to 
himfelf  for  the  Diforder  is  in  the  Stomach,  altho* 
the  Symptoms  feem  to  declare  it  a  Diforder  in  the 
Head. 

§.  1 1 39.  There  are  alfo  (3.)  fharp  Poifons 
with  a  manifeft  Acidity  ;  fuch  as  namely,  the 
Spirit  of  common  Salt,  of  Nitre,  Aqua  regia, 
Aqua  fortis,  Spirit  of  Sulphur,  of  Alum  and 
Vitriol. — All  thefe  Acids  may  be  again  joined 
with  metalline  Bodies,  and  by  that  means 
form  1  fome  of  the  mod  rank  Poifons  ;  fuch 
as  the  Solution  of  Gold  and  its  Cryftals,  the 
Solution  of  Silver,  its  Vitriol  and  Lapis  infer- 
nalis,  the  Solution  of  Copper  and  its  Vitriols, 
the  Solution  of  Quick-filver  in  Spirit  of  Nitre, 
Sea-falt,  Aqua  fortis,  Aqua  regia,  or  Oil  of 
Vitriol,  with  the  feveral  Preparations  thence 
made  -  as  the  red,  white,  and  green  mercu- 
rial Precipitates,  the  corrofive  and  fweet  Su- 
blimate, Calomel  and  Turbeth,  the  Impreg- 
nation of  Antimony  with  Aqua  regia,  and  the 
efcharotic  or  cauftic  Calx  thence  made.  From 
the  taking,  of  thefe  Poifons  follow  the  moft 
horrid  Taftes,  acid  and  foetid  Smells  and 
Belchings,  Inflammations,  Erofions,  gangre- 
nous Scabs,  Naufeas,  Vomitings,  Dyfente- 
ries,  Cholera  morbus,  the  moft  cruel  Gripes, 
Heart-burnings,  Colics,  iliac  Paflions,  Tumors 
of  the  Glands,  a  cadaverous  Smell,  Salivation, 
Z  3  Syncopes, 


342  Of  Antidotes.      § .  1 1 3  9 , 

Syncopes  and  Death.  Thefe  Poifons  require 
to  be  diluted  by  watery  Liquors  *  to  be  ob- 
tunded  by  Oils,  and  to  be  corre&ed  or  altered 
in  their  Nature  by  lixivial  or  faponaceous 
Medicines,  or  fuchas  are  moderately  alcaline*y 
with  the  more  powerful  jibfor  bents*  of  Acids ; 
and  when  the  Violence  of  the  cauftic  Poifons 
has  been  thus  allayed,  frequent  Ufe  muft  be 
made  of  Oil 5,  fat  Broths,  and  Emulfions  of 
the  like  kind. 

1  All  thefe  are  produced  by  the  Acid  concen- 
trated in  the  metalline  Subftances.  The  Metals 
are  in  themfelves  for  the  moft  part  inoffenfive, 
but  with  Acids  they  degenerate  into  the  moil  rank 
Poifons  ;  as  Silver  which  is  in  itfelf  infipid,  being 
difTolved  in  Spirit"  of  Nitre,  forms  the  moft  in- 
fjrnal  cauftic  Stone,  which  being  applied  to  the 
Body,  corrodes  and  deftroys  every  thing  even  to 
the  Bones.  But  the  Poifons  produced  from  each 
of  thefe  Metals  have  their  particular  Effects*  thofe 
from  Mercury  caufe  a  Salivation,  thofe  from 
Copper  Vomiting,  and -from  Silver  colliquative 
Diarrhaeas. 

*  The  Effufion  of  warm  Water  only  upon  the 
cauftic  Oil  or  Butter  of  Antimony,  which  is  a 
moft  ftrong  cauftic  Poifon,  changes  into  a  Calx, 
and  fo  dilutes  the  Strength  of  its  Acid,  that  it  be- 
comes inoffenfive, 

3  Which  have  the  Property  of  difcharging  the 
Acid  from  the  metalline  Subftance. 

4  Thefe  Abforbents  ftop  the  Progrefs  of  the 
Diforder  \  and  then  it  only  remains  to  remove  the 
Inflammatfbn  which  the  Poifon  has  excited. 

5  Thefe  are  uieful  to  cure  the  Efchars  made 
by  the  cauftic  Poifon,  which  is  commonly  fo  acri- 
monious 


§.  1 140.      Of  Antidotes.  343 

monious  as  in  a  little  time  to  burn  up  the  flefhy 
Parts  into  a  Scab,  or  gangrenous  Cruft. 

§.  1 140.  There  are  alfo  (4.)  other  Poifons 
which  are  known  to  ad:  by  a  manifeft  Alcaly ; 
fuch  as  the  Ames  of  burnt  Vegetables,  lixivial 
Alcalies  thence  made,  or  a  Compofition  of 
them  with  Lime  into  a  cauftic  Stone  ;  Eggs, 
animal  Humours  and  Flefh  perfectly  rotten, 
the  volatile  Salts  thence  feparated,  and  ren- 
dered ftill  more  fiery  1  by  a  Sublimation  from 
a  fixed  Alcaly,  from  Lime,  Lapis  calaminaris, 
Chalk,  Iron,  &c.  All  which  very  fpeedily 
create  the  moft  violent  and  burning  Inflam- 
mations, Erofion,  Gangrene,  and  Pains  of 
the  moft  fevere  Burning,  with  intenfe  Thirft, 
Convulfions,  moft  acute  Fevers,  a  cadaverous 
Stench,  a  Diflblution  of  the  Texture  of  the 
Humours,  a  Putrefaction  of  them  and  the 
Vifcera,  and  even  Death  itfelf.  But  thefe 
require  in  order  for  a  Cure,  to  be  diluted  with 
watery  emollient  Liquors,  to  be  obtunded  by 
Medicines  oily  or  fat,  and  thofe  of  a  fat, 
earthy  Nature,  to  be  corrected  or  neutrilized 
by  volatile  and  dilute  Acids  eafily  put  in  Mo- 
tion ;  and  then  continuing  a  long  time  in  a 
Diet  of  acidulous,  oily  and  emollient  Ali- 
ments. 

1  The  Alcaly  which  is  prepared  from  the  Afhes 
of  burnt  Wood,  and  combined  with  Lime  made 
of  Stone,  will  corrode  even  the  Flefh  of  a  dead 
Body,  efpecially  by  the  Application  of  warmth 
exteirnally.    At  Venice  there  was  a  Soap-boiler's 

Z  4  Man 


344         Of  Antidotes.  §.1141. 

Man  who  Fell  into  a  Copper  of  boiling  Lixivium 
made  of  Pot-am  and  Quick- lime  but  by  the  time 
they  could  get  him  out,  all  the  foft  Parts  of  the 
Body  were  diffolved,  and  they  extracted  nothing 
but  a  Skeleton.  I  have  known  fome  wicked  Men, 
who  to  dellroy  a  Perfon  have  injecled  Clyfters  of 
the  cauftic  Oil  of  Salt  of  Tar:ar. 

§.  1 141.  There  are  fome  Poifons  again,  (5.) 
which  are  often  mortal  by  a  peculiar  kind  of 
Acrimony,  which  hardly  fhews  itfelf  but  by 
the  deleterious  Effects  thence  produced  ;  fuch 
as  Brafs  or  Copper,  Ms  uftum,  or  the  Calces 
of  that  Metal  made  by  Corrolives,  the  Flos 
JEris  1  or  diftilled  Verdigreafe,  and  Scoria  of 
that  Metal,  the  Crocus  of  Antimony  %  or  the 
Calx  and  Glafs  of  it  prepared  by  Calcination, 
or  the  fimple  Flowers  thereof,  made  only  by 
Sublimation  per  ft,  or  with  an  Addition  of 
Sal  Ammoniacum,  and  afterwards  edulcorated 
by  Ablution.  Thefe  being  taken  into  the  Body 
create  Naufeas,  Vomitings,  Dyfenteries,  Cho- 
lera morbus,  over  Purgings,  moft  excruciating 
Pains  of  the  Vifcera,  Cramps,  Convulfions, 
Syncopes,  moft  feverc  Anguifh  or  Anxieties, 
and  Death  itfelf.  They  require  for  a  Cure, 
a  plentiful  and  long  continued  Ufe  of  diluent, 
emollient,  and  obtunding  3  Medicines,  and 
Drinks  4,  mixed  with  mild  Acids  and  Honey, 
fpeedily  applied  and  long  continued,  both  as 
Drinks,  Clyfters,  and  Baths ;  after  which, 
Recourfe  muft  be  had  to  Opiates  and  oily 
Medicines, 

The 


§.  1 142:      Of  A?itidotes.  345 

1  The  Flos  ^Eris  ufed  for  a  long  time  will  cer- 
tainly deftroy  the  Patient. 

*  Crocus  Metallorum  offers  no  Injury  or  Un- 
eafinefs  to  the  tender  Parts  of  the  Eye,  or  of  a 
Wound  but  if  half  a  Grain  only  thereof  be  taken 
into  the  Stomach,  it  caufes  mod  fevere  Vomitings ; 
though  Horfeswill  bear  an  Ounce  thereof.  Glafs 
of  Antimony  given  to  four  Grains,  will  kill  a 
Perion  who  is  not  of  a  very  ftrong  Habit.  To 
remedy  the  Violence  of  thefe  Subftances  nothing  is 
better  than  to  drink  plentifully  of  Oxycrate,  for  a 
long  time  together. 

3  M.  Homberg  has  given  us  the  Proportions  of 
Acid  and  Alcaly  in  the  feveral  forts  of  Spirits, 
and  has  pointed  out  to  us  the  Quantity  of  Acid 
neceffary  to  fubdue  or  neutralize  an  Alcaly. 

4  Water  is  the  univerfal  Remedy  of  Nature, 
with  which  all  thefe  Poifons  are  rendered  unactive, 
and  without  which  they  muft  inevitably  deftroy 
the  Stomach  and  other  fort  Parts,  with  which  they 
are  contiguous. 

§.  1  [42.  There  are  alfo  befides  the  fore- 
mentioned,  (6.)  other  Poifons,  whole  Operati- 
ons are  merely  Mechanic  :  fuch  as  the  Frag- 
ments  of  Diamond,  Mountain  Cryftal,  Fi- 
lings of  Iron  1  and  of  Brafs,  Alumen  Plumo- 
fum,  beaten  Glafs  *,  &c.  which  by  pricking 
the  Nerves  and  wounding  the  fmall  Veffels, 
excite  Convulfior.s,  Haemorrhages,  Inflam- 
mations, Ulcers  3  or  Gangrenes,  and  the  like. 
Thefe  indicate  a  fpeedy  and  plentiful  Ufe  of 
Oil,  Butter,  and  other  emollient,  laxadve 
Subtlances. 

This 


346         Of  Antidotes.        §,  1143. 

1  This  may  a6r.  as  a  Poifon  if  it  does  not  meet 
with  adiflblving  Acid  in  the  Stomach  *,  for  it  may 
wound  and  injure  the  fmall  Nerves  and  Veflfels  of 
the  Inteftines.  If  therefore  Fragments  of  Iron  be 
fwallowed  by  any  one,  it  will  be  convenient  to 
adminifter  Acids.  I  myfelf  cured  a  Girl  who 
fwallowed  a  Needle,  only  by  the  Ufe  of  Vinegar 
diluted  with  Water,  which  difTolved  and  blunted 
the  Point  of  the  Steel  Needle  and  at  another 
time  I  preferved  a  Maid  Servant  who  had  thruft  a 
very  large  Needle  into  her  Stomach.  We  are  not 
to  be  afraid  of  the  Ufe  of  Vinegar  in  thefe  Cafes, 
even  though  it  fhould  a  little  injure  the  Patient's 
Habit.  The  like  Method  is  to  be  taken  if  the 
Needle  or  wounding  Inflrument  fwallowed,  mould 
be  made  of  Copper. 

4  As  thefe  break  into  Fragments  with  fliarp 
Points  and  Edges,  they  muft  neceffarily  wound 
and  inflame  the  Coats  of  the  Stomach  and  In- 
teftines, againft  which  they  are  rubbed  by  the 
periflakic  Motion ;  and  therefore  the  beft  Anti- 
dote is  to  drown  them  in  oil  or  frefh  Butter. 

3  Which  being  feated  internally  are  almoft  in- 
curable ;  nor  fhould  I  be  willing  to  undertake 
the  Cure,  or  prefcribe  any  Remedies  for  fuch 
an  internal  Ulcer  caufed  by  the  Powder  of  Glafs 
or  Adamant,  fixing  itfelf  like  Thorns  into  the 
Membranes  of  the  Stomach  or  Gula. 

§.  1 143.  There  are  again  (7.)  other  Poifons 
which-  quickly  or  flowly  kill  by  conftrin- 
ging  the  Solids,  incraffating  the  Fluids,  and 
obftru&ing  or  drying  up  the  Veffcls ;  fuch  as 
Quick-lime,  or  even  that  which  has  been 
extinguifhed,  Gypfum  1  or  calcined  Alabafter, 
Lead  Ore,  the  Filings,  Scales,  or  Calces  of 

Lead 


§,  1 143*      Of  Antidotes.  347 

Leadz,  Cerrus  or  white  Lead,  red  Leadf 
Glafs  of  Lead,  Litharge,  the  Afhes  of  cal- 
cined Tin,  Synopis  or  red  Oker,  the  Semen 
Pfyllii,  the  lpongy  or  viU°us  Subftancc  of 
Hips,  and  the  feveral  forts  of  Fungi,  Agaric, 
Bird-lime,  &c.  which  conftringe  and  glew 
up  the  abforbing  Veffels  in  the  Stomach  and 
Inteftines,  intercept  the  Courfe  of  the  ali- 
mentary Juices,  and  after  producing  the 
moft  lamentable  Diforders,  with  Weaknefs 
and  Confumption,  terminate  in  Death.  Thefe 
plainly  (hew  the  Neceffity  of  Vomiting, 
Purging,  and  diluting,  with  the  Ufe  of  Me- 
dicines fpirituous,  oily  and  alcaline,  and  all 
thofe  of  a  faponaceous  kind,  which  being 
timely  ufed  and  repeated,  fhould  be  perfifted 
in  for  a  long  time. 

1  This  being  prepared  in  the  Form  of  Meal, 
and  boiled  in  Water,  is  extremely  fatal  in  its  Ef- 
fects, even  though  it  be  deftitute  of  Smell  and 
Tafte.  So  long  as  it  continues  fluid  and  fufpended 
in  the  containing  Liquor,  it  is  not  injurious  ;  but 
it  foon  fettles  when  the  Liquor  ftagnates,  and  pre- 
cipitates a  ftony,  heavy  Matter,  which  obftructs 
the  abforbing  Veflels  of  the  Stomach  and  Inteftines, 
by  adhering  to  their  fmall  Orifices  and  fucking 
there  in  the  fame  manner  as  when  the  Powder  is 
applied  to  the  Tongue.  By  this  Fraud  perifhed 
the  Army  of  the  Emperor  Conradius  by  the  wicked 
Contrivance  of  Byzantinius.  It  is  true  this  may  be 
diffolved  by  the  Ufe  of  Acids,  but  then  it  fcarcely 
affords  any  particular  Signs  by  which  one  may 
know  it  has  been  taken. 

All 


348  Of  Antidotes.  §.1144. 

1  All  thefe  Poifons  may  be  exhibited  inter- 
changeably, the  one  after  the  other,  and  as  they 
always  operate  (lowly  and  clandeftinely,  they  can 
hardly  be  difcovered  by  the  unhappy  Perfon  who 
takes  them    fo  that  by  proportioning  the  Quantity 
and  Repetition  of  them,  the  moft  wicked  Poifon- 
ers  can  prolong  the  Patient's  Calamities  and  Death 
to  a  certain  number  of  Days,  Months,  or  Years. 
They  who  prepare  white  Lead  or  the  Ore  from 
whence  it  is  feparated,  ufualiy  perifh  within  the 
fpace  of  a  Year,   But  the  Diforders  produced  by 
Lead  are  very  (low  in  their  Progrefs,  and  their 
Caufes  often  equally  difficult  to  diicover.  A  Wo- 
.  man  who  ferved  thofe  who  glaze  Tiles  and  Delft 
Ware,  was  all  her  Life-time  afflicted  with  the  moft 
calamitous  Diforders  of  the  Nerves,  with  Anxie- 
ties, Pains,  Afiihma,  t£c.   I  ordered  her  Acids 
with  a  plentiful  Ufe  of  Vinegar,  by  which  the 
pulverized  Lead  was  diffolved,  and  her  Maladies 
relieved  ;  but  I  could  never  cure  fuch  Patients  in 
this  manner  entirely,  when  their  Conftitutions  are 
fo  much  reduced  that  the  Ufe  of  Acids  render  them 
pale  and  cachectic.    Hence  it  appears,  of  what 
pernicious  Confequence  the  intern  ;1  Ufe  of  Saccha- 
rum  Saturni  may  be  of  to  the  Patient,  in  the  way 
it  is  commonly  prefcribed  ;  for  it  may  be  rendered 
fo  poifonous  as  to  kill  Dogs  and  Cats  and  make 
them  run  mad. 

§.  1 144.  Add  to  thefe  (8.)  thofe  anomalous 
Poifons  which  are  directly  repugnant  to  Life, 
and  which  kill  when  taken  in,  applied  or  in- 
fufed  into  the  Body  by  a  Bite  or  Sting,  though 
their  Action  or  Operation  and  Effects  are  not 
yet  well  known  or  explained:  fuch  as  Cantha- 
rides,  Spiders,  the  Tarantula,  Afps,  Vipers, 

Seraftes, 


§.  1 1 44.      Of  Antidotes.  349 

Seraftes,  Prefter,  Seps,  Scorpions,  the  mad 
Dog,  Toad,  Bupreftis,  Stellio,  Salamander, 
Lepus  marinus,  Paftinaca  marina,  &c.  which 
after  producing  various  furpriftngEffeds^r^ 
I  explicable  \  kill  the  Patient.  The  Indication 
here  if  they  are  taken  into  the  Stomach  is  to 
immediately  evacuate  them  by  Vomit,  to  di- 
lute plentifully  with  watery  Liquors,  efpecially 
ifuch  as  are  oily,  laxative,  and  emollient ;  by 
irefifting  Putrefaction  with  fuch  as  are  fpiritu- 
ous,  acid,  and  faline.  If  they  are  applied  ex- 
ternally by  Bite,  Wound,  or  Sting,  they  call 
for  an  Extra&ion  of  the  Poifon  from  the  in- 
fe&ed  Part  by  fucking,  fcarifying,  cauterizing, 
and  fomenting  with  oily  and  emollient  Re- 
medies ;  and  after  this  to  procure  a  plentiful 
Sweat  by  penetrating  Antidotes  well  diluted, 
and  averfe  to  Putrefadtion :  and  laftly,  by 
correcting  or  weakening  the  Poifon  with  acid, 
faline,  or  fpecific  Antidotes. 

1  All  thefe  Animals  abound  with  a  wonderful 
kind  of  Poifon,  which  being  transfufed  into  the 
Blood  of  other  Animals,  when  the  former  are  en- 
raged, produce  certain  wonderful  Effects,  which 
often  vary  as  the  biting  Animal  is  more  or  lefs  en- 
raged. The  Afp  cauies  a  Sleepinefs  the  Seraftes 
a  Tetanos  or  Cramp  of  all  the  Mufcles ;  the  Toad 
a  Swelling  of  the  whole  Body  with  Convulfions, 
'till  the  Perfon  is  almoft  ready  to  burft;  the  Viper 
caufes  a  Jaundice ;  the  Seps  a  Gangrene  the  Scor- 
pion an  acute  Fever  with  Convulfions  the  Lepus 
marinus  a.pu!monary  Confumption  ;  the  Paftinaca 
marina  dilbrders  the  Liver  ;  the  Dipfas  inflames 
the  CEfophagus,  and  excites  perpetual  Third  ; 

Cantharides, 

6 


35°  Of .  Antidotes.      §.  1145. 

Cantharides,  to  whatever  Part  applied,  inflame  the 
urinary  Paflages  •,  &c.  It  is  indeed  true,  that  fome 
endeavour  to  explain  the  Action  of  thefe  laft  by  a 
volatile  Salt,  with  which  they  abound  ;  but  then 
why  fhould  this  volatile  Salt  be  fo  injurious  to  our 
Bodies  and  not  at  all  injure  that  of  the  fmall  Ani- 
mal, in  which  they  abound  ?  Is  knot  thence  evident 
that  this  Salt  is  poifonous  with  refpect  to  human 
Bodies  •,  and  yet  we  fee  that  all  poifonous  Animals 
live  free  from  Injury  by  their  own  Poifons  ?  I 
frankly  confefs  for  my  own  part  that  they  do  not 
feem  to  admit  of  an  Explanation,  at  leaft  none 
that  is  mechanical  and  demonftrative. 

§.  1 145.  Laftly,(9.)  There  are  fome  Thing9 
which  kill  in  a  Moment  by  fuffocating  in  the 
Form  of  a  Vapour,  as  the  Fumes  of  burning 
Charcoal1  clofely  confined,  fubterraneous  Air 
long  fhut  up,  the  Exhalations  of  fermenting 
Wine,  the  volatile  Duft  of  poifonous  Fungi, 
the  Fumes  of  Sulphur,  and  many  things  of 
the  like  kind,  which  are  tetter  concealed  than 
expofed  to  iil-defigning  People.  The  Effects 
of  thefe  on  the  Lungs  and  Nerves  to  which 
they  are  applied,  are  intelligible  from  what 
has  been  faid  before,  and  hardly  admit  of  a 
Cure. 

1  Burning  Wood  or  Charcoal  fuddenly  ex« 
tinguifhed  in  a  clofe  Room,  within  a  little  time 
infenfibly  kilts  all  that  are  in  it,  of  which  we  have 
many  lamentable  Inftances  in  all  Nations.  To 
this  Head  belong  metalline  Fumes  breathed  into 
the  Lungs,  where,  by  conftringing  the  Mufculi 
Mefochondriaci,  they  inftantly  caufe  a  Peripneu- 
mony  and  Suffocations  and  this  more  efpecially  is 

effefted 


§.  1 148.      Of  Antidotes.  351 

effected  by  the  Fumes  of  burning  Sulphur,  which 
may  be  corrected  by  the  volatile  Spirit  of  Sal  Am- 
moniacum. 

§.  1 146.  But  the  more  remote  Caufes  of 
Difeafes  being  evident  to  the  Senfes,  are 
more  eafily  corrected  or  removed  >  fince  they 
indicate  an  Alteration  or  Change  in  the  fix 
Non-naturals. 

§.  1 147.  But  if  thefe  Caufes  (§.  1146.)  lie 
more  concealed  1  from  the  Senfes,  to  which  they 
appear  only  by  their  Effects,  they  neverthelefs 
indicate  by  thofe  fenfible  Effects  and  Appear- 
ances the  proper  and  refpe&ive  Remedies. 

1  Thus  I  know  not  the  Nature  and  Manner  of 
/Vction  peculiar  to  the  variolus  Contagion,  never- 
thelefs from  its  manifeft  Effects  I  deduce  a  proper 
Method  of  Cure.  If  I  remove  the  known  Effects 
of  any  unknown  Caufe,  I  perfectly  weaken  or  de- 
ftroy  the  Caufe  itfelf.  Thus  if  a  Patient  is  afflicted 
with  the  Stone  or  Gravel,  and  by  a  proper  Treat- 
ment I  procure  him  a  Freedom  from  all  the  Ef- 
fects or  Symptoms  thereof,  I  (hall  have  performed 
my  Part  as  a  Phyfician,  and  the  Patient  may  for 
fo  long  a  time  be  faid  to  be  in  Health. 

§.  1  148.  The  Progrefs  of  thefe  Effects  or 
Appearances  (§.  1 147.)  being  rightly  obferved, 
teach  us  by  what  Medicines,  and  in  what  time, 
order,  way  and  manner  Remedies  are  to  be 
ufed  to  correct  or  expel  the  proximate  Caufe 
of  the  Difeafe  in  the  Patient's  Body. 

1 .      §.  1 149.  An 


352         Of  Antidotes.        § .  1 1 5  2 . 

§.1149.  ^n  accurate  Obfervation  of  the 
fame  things  likewife  teaches  us  what  is  want- 
ing \  and  what  is  to  be  fupply'd  for  the  Pa- 
tient's Recovery. 

1  Though  Hippocrates  understood  notth&Circula- 
tion  of  the  Blood,  yet  by  accurately  obferving  the 
Effects  of  the  Difeafe,  which  he  look'd  upon  as  an 
unknown  Entity,  and  by  remarking  the  Endea- 
vours of  Nature,  by  which  the  Difeafe  tended  to 
either  Health  or  Recovery,  did  from  thence  de- 
duce a  proper  Method  of  Cure,  namely,  by  affift- 
ing  the  falutary  Endeavours  of  Nature,  and  by 
refilling  thofe  of  the  Difeafe-,  and  thus  Hippocrates , 
ignorant  of  the  Caufes,  cured  Difeafes  as  well^as 
ourfelves,  (locked  with  fo  many  Difcoveries.  It 
cannot  indeed  be  denied  that  as  this  Method  is 
founded  upon  Experiment  only,  a  great  many  Pa- 
tients may  be  loft  at  the  Approach  of  any  new 
Difeafe,  before  a  proper  and  fuccefsful  Courfe  can 
be  adjufled  or  affigned,  as  Sydenham  obferves. 

§.11^0.  And  from  thence  alfo  we  know 
what  Motions  are  to  be  excited,  fupported, 
quieted,  or  allayed  in  order  to  bring  about  the 
fame  End  of  the  Patient's  Recovery. 

§.  11  qi.  And  therefore  a  regular  Obferva- 
tion of  thefe  Appearances,  and  an  exact 
Knowledge  of  their  Effects  excellently  in- 
ftruct  us  how  to  correct  and  remove  the 
Caufes. 

§.  1 152.  From  thence  alfo  we  know  that 
there  are  at  prefent  two  ways  to  attain  a  Know- 
ledge 


§•  11 53'      Of  Antidotes*  353 

ledge  of  the  Caufe  in  a  Difeafe,  the  one  being 
methodical  and  the  other  termed  fpecific. 

§.  1 153.  The  methodic  Phyfician  in  order 
to  remove  the  proximate  Caufe  of  a  Difeafe 
makes  ufe  of  the  following  Helps  and  Means. 

1.  He  accurately  examines  and  ranges  in  order 
the  feveral Symptoms  (§.  1 147,  to  1 152.),  and 
carefully  obferves  the  Tendencies  of  Nature  \ 

2.  If  Life  appears  too  weak  in  performing  thofe 
things  which  are  neceflary  to  expunge  the 
Caufe  of  the  Difeafe,  he  then  fupplies  strength 
by  admiriiftering  Cordials  (§.  1095,  to  11 16.) 
or  endeavours  to  remove  the  Impediments 
which  oppofe:  for  which  end  Medicines  which 
evacuate  the  morbific  Matter  of  the  Difeafe  are 
ufeful.  3.  But  when  he  perceives  the  vital 
Actions  arife  too  high,  fo  as  rather  to  confound 
than  extricate  the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe,  he 
then  moderates  thofe  Adtions  and  reduces  their 
Violence  to  the  degree  required  •>  and  this  is 
effected  by  watery  Drinks,  Evacuations,  foft, 
laxative,  emollient,  and  glutinous  Remedies, 
Bleeding,  Opiates,  and  Anodynes.  4.  By  do- 
ing 1  or  changing  nothing  at  all  but  what  ap- 
pears neceffary  with  the  ftrongeft  Evidence 
from  the  cleared  Indications. 

1  Suppofe  a  Difeafe  perfectly  unknown  with  re- 
flect to  its  Caufes,  and  Nature  only  manifefts  her 
Endeavours,  and  points  out  how  much  the  Pulfe, 
Refpiration,  and  Actions  of  all  the  Vifcera  deviate 
from  their  healthy  Condition  ;  having  remarked 
all  thefe  Particulars,  I  then  range  them  into  Claf-  ' 
fes  according  to  the  Stages  or  Times  of  the  Difeafe. 

A  a  .  In 


354         Of  Antidotes.  §.1154. 

In  thefe  Cafes  different  kinds  of  Cordials  will  be 
neceffary  according  to  the  different  Caufe  of  the 
Weaknefs thus  in  the  Plague  Vinegar  or  Lemon 
Juice  or  Rhenifh  Wine  may  be  as  advantageoufly 
given  as  Cordials. 

*  The  Fever  itfelf  ought  not  to  be  removed, 
only  the  Caufes  which  excite  it,  otherwife  the  Pa- 
tient himfelf  will  be  extinguished,  together  with 
the  Fever ;  as  Locke  wifely  obfervefi  in  his  Verfes 
prefixed  to  Sydenham *s  Works.  But  one  ought  to 
leave  fo  much  of  the  Fever  as  is  fufficient  to  con- 
coct or  attenuate  the  morbific  Matter,  and  to  re- 
duce the  Fever  from  running  too  high. 

3  I  can  affirm  that  no  Difeafe  is  fo  obfcure,  but 
that  according  to  thefe  Rules  one  may  in  fome 
meafure  judge  what  is  necefiary  to  be  done;  but 
then  it  mud  be  remembered  that  all  Difeafes  are 
not  curable,  and  that  others  only  require  to  be 
moderated  or  kept  within  Bounds  by  the  Phyfician  ; 
as  in  an  ardent  Fever  with  great  Drinefs,  Heat, 
and  Thirft,  I  give  Oxycrate,  Jelly  of  Elder-ber- 
ries, Honey,  and  the  like ;  being  certain  by  this 
means  to  temperate  the  Heat. 

§.  1 154.  But  the  fpecific  Method  before- 
mentioned  removes  the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe 
barely  by  the  Application  of  fuch  Things  as 
are  known  to  be  efficacious  only  from  Expe- 
rience \  without  attending  to  the  four  parti- 
cular Confiderations  laft  mentioned  (§.  11 53.) 
ThisMethod  therefore  only  requires  theName 
of  the  Difeafe  and  of  the  Medicine;  as  in  the 
Cure  of  an  intermitting  Fever  by  the  Bark  % 
of  Pains  by  the  Ufe  of  Opium,  and  of  every 
particular  kind  of  Poifon  by  its  proper  and 

known 


§.  1 1 5  4.      Of  Antidotes.  355 

known  Corrector  or  Antidote,  to  attract  or 
expel  the  lame. 

«  An  old  Butch  Phyfician  tells  me,  that  if  any 
one  is  bit  by  a  mad  Dog,  and  faked  Herrings  are 
applied  to  the  Wound,  and  again  renewed  after 
they  have  lain  twenty-four  Hours  if  they  are  be- 
come putrid,  the  Patient  will  be  thus  cured,  or  at 
leaft  will  certainly  not  be  troubled  with  the  Hy- 
drophobia, or  Dread  of  Water.  He  could  not 
tell  in  what  manner  thefe  Herrings  acted,  but  he 
had  known  them  fucceed ;  and  this  is  the  Nature 
of  a  Specific. 

4  This  Bark  directly  removes  the  Fever  fo  far 
as  it  is  a  Fever  ;  and  in  a  tertian  Fever,  without 
any  other  Diforder  of  the  Humours  and  Vifcera,  it 
is  truly  a  Specific,  as  much  as  Opium  is  to  allay 
a  too  violent  Motion  of  the  Humours  arifing  from 
the  animal  Faculties.  But  this  Method  of  curing 
Dileafes  requires  great  Caution  ;  for  if  there  was 
•another  Diforder  joined  with  the  intermitting  Fe- 
ver, the  Bark  would  be  fo  far  from  curing  it,  that 
it  would  become  much  worfe,  whether  it  were  a 
Cacochymy,  or  a  Weaknefs  in  the  Vifcera.  But 
Pretenders  to  Phyfic  no  fooner  hear  the  Name  of  an 
intermitting  Fever  mentioned,  but  they  are  im- 
mediately for  adminiftering  the  Bark  at  all  Ha- 
zards, or  under  any  Circumftances. 


A  a  2 


Curative 


356 


§.  1156. 


Curative  Indications  in  J)ifeafe$  of  the 
Solids. 

§.  1 1 55.T F  the  Difeafe  itfelf  lies  in  the  fim- 
J[  pie  or  fimilar  folid  Parts  of  the 
Body,  the  Knowledge  of  it  readily  points  out 
the  neceflary  Indications. # 

§.  1 156.  For  if  the  Diforder  be  a  Solution 
of  Unity  in  thefe  parts,  it  requires  (1.)  the 
Removal1  of  all  extraneous,  dead,  or  foreign 
Bodies,  interpofed  betwixt  the  Parts  feparated ; 
(2.)  the  Redu&ion  and  Retention  of  the  divi- 
ded Parts  mutually  together  in  their  natural 
Situations;  (3.)  to  keep  them  quietly  united 
together  in  that  manner  without  any  Diftur- 
bance  3  (4.)  to  preferve  the  Veffels  fupplied 
with  their  natural  Moifture,  Softnefs  and 
Warmth  j  (5.)  to  conglutinate  or  unite  them 
together  again,  by  the  means  of  natural  and 
liquid  Nourimment  conveyed  thither  with  a 
moderate  Force,  and  in  a  healthy  Condition. 

•  1  No  one  living  could  ever  by  Art  occafion  a 
Fragment  of  the  Tibia  to  join  together  with  the 
reft  of  the  Bone,  which  is  entirely  the  Work  of 
Nature  ;  and  all  that  Art  can  effecl,  is  to  remove 
the  Impediments,  while  Nature  performs  the  reft. 
When  a  Bone  is  diflocated,,  one  Part  of  the  Liga- 
ment 


1 1 5  7«  Indications  of  the  Solids.  357 

ment  is  extended,  while  the  other  is  relaxed  » 
whence  ihp.  Circulation  of  the  Humours  will  be 
impeded  in  the  former ;  whence  Pain,  Inflamma- 
tion, Tumor,  &c.  which  immediately  vanifh,  as 
foon  as  the  Bone  is  replaced  by  the  Surgeon ;  fo 
fimple  are  the  Affiftances  which  we  afford  toNature. 

§.  1 157.  The  three  firft  Intentions  are  per- 
formed by  the  Dexterity  of  the  Surgeon  \  but 
the  fourth  Intention  is  anfwered  in  fome  mea- 
fure  by  the  Applications  of  Balfams  %  Un- 
guents, Oils  of  a  foft  and  fmooth  Nature,  and 
averfe  to  Putrefaction  ;  Balfams  of  Tolu,  Pe- 
ru, Palma,  Capivi,  Mecha,  native  Turpentine, 
Butter,  Marrow,  Unguents,  Arceus's  Lini- 
ment or  Balfam,  Unguentum  Bafilicum,  ex- 
prefTed  Oil  of  Olives,  Linfeed,  or  the  like 
Oils  digefted  with  the  Flowers  of  balfamic 
Herbs;  as  the  Oil  of  St.  John's  Wort,  Mullen, 
Marfh-maliows,  Agrimony,  white  Lillies,  and 
an  infinite  Number  of  Compolitions  of  the 
like  kind.  But  the  fifth  and  laft  Intention 
preceding,  is  anfwered  by  a  proper  Regimen 
and  Diet  \ 

1  Whofe  Office  is  to  remove  every  thing  pre- 
ternatural, and  to  reduce  the  Parts  to  their  jufl 
Pofitions,  and  to  retain  them  fo  afterwards. 

1  Which  Balfams  contain  a  Rcfin  and  acid  SpU 
rit,  and  which  in  reality  differ  in  nothing  elfe  from 
mere  Oils, 

3  That  healthy  Humours  may  be  conveyed  to 
the  wounded  Parts  to  unite  them,  or  fupply  the 
loft  Subftance. 

A  a  3  §.1158. 


358  Indications  of  the  Solids.  §.  1159. 


§.  1 1  58.  Too  great  Rigidity  1  or  Stiffhefs 
appearing  in  thefolid  Paits,  indicate  a  Relaxa- 
tion of  them;  which  may  be  obtained  1.  by 
the  Ufe  of  Baths,  Fomentations,  Drinks,  In- 
jections, Vapours,  and  warm  Water  ;  2.  the 
Application  of  a  Decoction  of  emollient  Vege- 
tables in  the  fame  manner,  asMarfh-mallows, 
common  Mallows,  Mullen,  Brank-Urfine, 
Pellitory,  Mercury,  Fenugreek  Seeds,  Linfeed, 
Mallow  Seeds,  Quince  Seeds,  Barley,  Oats, 
&c.  3.  All  thefe  applied  in  the  fame  man- 
ner, boiled  or  ihfufed  in  fomefoftOil  (§.1 157.) 
4.  By  moderate  Motion  or  Exercife  frequent- 
ly repeated, 

»  Nothing  is  more  powerful  in  thefe  Maladies 
than  warm  Applications,  which  infinuate  them- 
felves  under  the  Form  of  Vapours,  from  whence  I 
have  often  feen  happy  Effefts.  I  even  remember 
a  Countryman  whofe  Knee  was  (tiff  with  an  An* 
chylofis,  which  was  cured  by  ordering  him  two 
Hours  every  Day  into  a  vaporous  Bath  ;  after- 
wards rubbing  the  Joint  well,  firft  dry,  and  thun 
with  Oil.  by  the  frequent  Repetition  of  which  he 
recovered. 

§.1159.  Too  great  Flaccidity  or  Relaxa- 
tion of  the  folid  Parts  being  known,  indicates 
or  calls  for  ftrengthening  of  them  ;  which  is 
obtained,  1 .  by  thofe  Cordials  before  defcribed 
(§.  1 107)-  sr.  by  greater  Exercife.  of  the  Body, 
and  Morion  of  the  Humours  by  Fridions,  rir- 
ding,  and  bodily  Exercife  in  order  to  render 
the  (oft  Fibres  fomewhat  rrjore  callous,  com- 

pac~t3 


§.  1 1  6  2,  Indications  of  the  Solids.  359 

pad:,  or  denfe  3.  by  a  drying  Heat  1  \  and 
laftly,  4.  by  Diet  and  Air  of  the  like  kind. 

1  When  Heat  is  excited  internally,  while  at  the 
fame  time  the  Patient  is  carried  through  a  dry 
Wind,  this  Caufes  the  nutritious  Parts  or  the  Hu- 
mours to  be  applied  and  compacted  into  the  So- 
lids. 

§.  1 160.  From  whence  it  is  alfo  evident 
what  Method  mufr  be  taken  to  remedy  too 
great  Eiarbicity  or  Weaknefs  in  the  fmalleft 
Fibres ;  what  mull  be  done  when  the  Fibres 
are  too  fragile  or  cafily  broken;  and  what 
when  they  are  too  much  contracted,  or  elfe 
dillradfced  by  Elongation. 

§.  116?.  Diforders  in  the  organical  folid 
Parts,  and  confifting  in  their  Bulk,  Figure, 
Pofition  or  Cohefion  perverted,  indicate  the 
Remedies  before-mention'd(§.  1 1 16  to  1 1 19.) 

§.  1  62.  But  for  the  reft  of  the  Difeafes 
feated  in  the  folid  Parts,  they  depend  chiefly 
upon  the  Diforders  of  the  Fluids  \  as  may  ap- 
pear from  the  Doctrine  of  the  Caufes  of  Dif- 
eafes before  propofcd.  We  fhall  therefore'next 
proceed  to  the  Confideration  of  the  Fluids. 

1  The  Hyperfarcofis,  Scirrhus,  and  other  Tu- 
mors, which  are  commonly  reckoned  Difeafes  of 
the  folid  Parts,  are  fo  far  from  being  produced  by 
an  Increafe  of  the  Solids,  that  very  often  in  thefe 
Cafes  the  real  folid  Fibres  and  VefTels  are  even  di- 
minifhed,  and  the  Tumor  produced  only  by  the 
ftagnant  Fluids  concreting  and  putting  on  the 
A  a  4  Form 


360  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §.  1164. 

Form  of  a  Solid,  as  we  fee  in  Scirrhi  and  incyfted 
Tumors.  Nor  do  I  in  this  Place  confider  the  Ste- 
nochoria  or  Contraction  of  the  Veffels  and  Thlip- 
fis,  or  Compreffion  of  the  Veffels  (§.709)  thatl 
might  not  be  obliged  in  thefe  Accounts  to  draw  in 
the  Confideration  of  the  Fluids. 

Curative  Indications  in  Difeafes  of  the 
Fluids. 

§.  1 1 63.  r~g"^HE  Humours  or  fluid  Parts 
of  the  Body  being  known  to 
offend  in  Difeafes,  indicate  their  Correction  or 
Evacuation  '$  and  this  either  throughout  the 
whole  Body,  or  only  in  the  Part  itfelf  af~ 
feded.  . 

1  From  thefe  two  Indications  arife  the  firft  and 
principal  Divifion  of  Medicines  into  Alterants  and  . 
Evacuants,  agreeable  to  the  moft  received  Diftinc- 
tion  of  the  Ancients. 

§.  1 164.  A  vitiated  Humour  confined  only 
to  one  particular  Part  \  always  fuppofes  too 
great  a  Tenacity  or  Groffnefs  of  the  Humours, 
and  an  ill  Condition  of  the  containing  Solids ; 
and  therefore  it  indicates  fuch  an  Alteration  to 
be  made  both  in  the  folid  Veffels  and  fluid 
Juices,  as  may  render  the  latter  pervious,  and 
fit  Wf  Motion. 

Such 


§.1165.  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  361 

1  Such  is  the  Nature  of  the  healthy  human  Bo- 
dy, that  an  Obftruclion  cannot  be  formed  in  one 
Part,  buttheDiforder  will  beproportionably  com- 
municated to  the  whole. 

§.  1 165.  The  Humours  become  too  grofs 
or  tenacious  in  any  Part,  are  render'd  fluid  and 
moveable,  I.  by  the  Ufe  of  watery  Diluents 
applied  warm,  either  in  Form  of  a  Drink,  Fo- 
mentation, Vapours,  Bath,  or  Injection,  adapt- 
ing the  Form  and  Ufe  of  them  fo  as  to  pene- 
trate as  much  as  poffible  immediately  into  the 
affected  Part ;  2.  by  faline  Refohents  1  ufed  in 
the  fame  manner ;  the  principal  of  which  are 
Nitre,  Sal  Prunellae,  Sal  Polychreftum,  Ni- 
trum  Stibiatum,  Sal  Gem,  Sea  Salt,  Sal  Am- 
moniacum,  Flores  Salis  Ammoniaci  cum  Sale 
Alcali  fixo,  Borax,  Sandiver,  or  the  Salt  which 
is  fcummed  off  from  Glafs,  calcined  Afhes  of 
Vegetables,  fixed  and  volatile  alcaline  Salts, 
Tartarus  folubilis,  Tartarus  regeneratus;  3.  by 
the  Ufe  of  faponaceous *  Refolvents  compofed 
of  an  Oil  and  Alcali  combined  together  ;  the 
chief  and  moft  powerful  of  which  are  tbofe 
made  of  an  expreffed  Oil  and  fixed  Alcali,  of 
an  exprefTed  Oil  and  a  volatile  Alcali,  of  a  di- 
ftilled  Oil  and  a  volatile  Alcali ;  to  which  add 
the  Bile  5  of  Animals,  and  the  faponaceous  or 
abfterfive  Juices  of  fome  Plants,  as  of  Lettuce, 
Gum-fuccory,  Sow-Thiftie,  rhe  lefTer  Hawk- 
weed,  Dandelion,  Scorzonera,  Goats-beard, 
Succory,  Endive,  Soapwort,  &c.  4.  by  thofe 
Remedies  which  are  diametrically  oppofite  to 


362  Ind  cations  in  the  Fluids.  §.1165. 

the  infpiflating  or  coagulating  Caufe  in  the 
Humours ;  as  of  mild  Alcalies  againft  a  coa- 
gulating Acid,  and  of  faponaceous  Subftances 
againft  an  infpiffating  oily  Glue  ;  and  the  Ufe 
of  attenuating  Salts  and  Saponacea,  when  the 
Humours  are  thickened  by  too  much  Reft ; 
and  finally,  the  Ufe  of  nitrous  Salts,  and  Juices 
of  the  faponaceous  Herbs 4  before-mention'd,  if 
the  Humours  abound  with  a  coagulating  phlo- 
giftic  Tenacity  5  ;  5.  and  laftly,  by  the  Ufe  of 
proper  Cordials0  (§.  1112.)  faline,  aromatic, 
oily  and  fpirituous,  fo  far  as  they  Jlimulate  \ 
divide,  and  urge  forward  the  Humours. 

1  That  is,  fuch  Medicines  as  being  put  in  Acti- 
on by  the  vita]  Powers,  diflblve,  and  reftore  fuch 
Parts  as  were  once  fluid  to  their  former  State  of 
Fluidity ;  or  which  difpofe  the  confticuent  Par- 
ticles of  the  Blood  to  move  eafijy  by  the  Sides  of 
each  other,  and  not  to  run  into  concretions. 

*  Thefe  are  more  tfpecially  ufeful  in  a  glutinous 
Tenacity  of  the  Humours  ;  but  Care  muft  be  ta- 
ken not  to  adminifter  Sopes,  when  they  are  difpo- 
f-d  to  an  alcaline  Putrefaction,  for  then  Garden 
Fruits  are  of  the  greateft  Efficacy. 

3  The  Bile  of  Animals,  though  li: tie  ufed  in 
Medicine,  is  one  of  the  moft  efficacious,  if  not 
abfolutely  the  bed  Attenuator  of  the  animal  Hu- 
mours with  which  we  are  acquainted. 

4  There  is  no  chemical  Liquor,  nor  even  does 
Mercury  itfelf  fo  powerfully  fufe  the  Blood,  as  the 
Oxymel  of  Hippocrates,  or  the  Juice  of  Fumatory 
taken  in  a  considerable  Quantity  with  Milk  for  a 
Jong  time  together. 

5  For  a  Coagulation  of  the  Humours  may  be 
like-wife  introduced  bv  a  morbid  Alcali,  as  we  fee 

by 


§.  1 1 66.  >IndkatiGm  in  the  Fluids.  363 


by  mixing  Akalies  with  Milk  and  with  Blood  ; 
and  then  they  are  beft  difTolved  and  attenuated  by 
a  fpirituous  Acid  fheathed,  and  as  it  were  render'd 
fi')onaceous  by  an  oily  Spirit,  fuch  as  the  Spirit  of 
Nitre,  Vitriol,  and  common  Salt  dulcified  with 
Alcohol. 

6  Which  Cordials  by  increafing  the  Action  of 
the  Veifels  and  Motion  of  the  Humours,  promote 
the  diflblving  Efficacy  of  the  faponaceous  AtLe.iu- 
ants. 

7  Refolving  Medicines  of  any  kind  have  no 
Action  upon  the  Blood,  fo  long  a^  they  are  at  reft ; 
but  when  they  are  actuated  by  the  Motion  ot  the 
Heart,  Lungs,  and  Contraction  of  the  Arteries, 
then  it  is  that  they  begin  to  difiblve  the  concreted 
Humours  ;  whence  it  follows,  that  a  mechanical 
Concuftion  of  the  Juices,  and  not  the  dead  Action 
of  the  Medicines  only,  gives  and  maintains  their 
healthy  Degree  of  Fluidity. 

§.  1 166.  The  Paffages  or  Veffels  being  flop- 
ped up  or  rendered  pervious,  1.  By  opening 
their  Cavities,  by  Drinks,  Fomentations,  Va- 
pours, and  Baths  made  of  warm  Water,  with 
emoliient,  faline,  and  temperating  Medicines; 
by  a  moderate  external  Warmth,  and  by  warm 
Frictions  either  dry  or  moift.  2.  The  fame  is 
alfo  brought  about  by  fomenting,  foftejiing  \ 
and-  agitating  the  impacted  Matter  together 
with  the  obftructed  V effels,  or  elfe  by  procur- 
ing a  Suppuration  2  or  Putrefaction  of  the 
fame  Matter,  fo  as  to  diffolve  the  whole  mor- 
bid Part  into  a  Fluid,  or  laudable  Pus  or  Mat- 
ter; as  may  be  done  by  the  Ufe  of  Cataplafms, 
Ointments  and  Plafters,  compofed  of  the  foft 

clammy 


364  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §.  1 1 66. 

clammy  Meals  of  Wheat,  Rye,  Oats,  Lin- 
feed,  Beans,  Peale,  Vetches,  Fenugreek,  ©V. 
the  emollient  Roots  of  Mallows,  MariTi-mal- 
lows,  white  Lillies,  roafted  Onions;  Flowers 
of  Mallows,  Mullen  and  Melilot;  the  Leaves 
of  Mallows,  Marfh-mallows,  Mercury,  Pel- 
litory ;  to  which  add  Figs,  the  Yolks  of  Eggs, 
and  the  fharp,  aromatic  or  ferulaceous  Gums, 
Ammoniacum,  Galbanum,  Opopanax,  Saga- 
pen,  frefh  Butter,  &c.  which  may  be  vari- 
oufly  compounded  into  the  Cataplaims,  Oint- 
ments and  Piafters  above-mentioned.  3.  and 
laftly,  By  opening  a  way  for  the  difcharge  of 
the  Matter  thus  formed  in  the  Part,  either  by 
making  an  Incifion  with  the  Scalpel  \  or  by 
the  Application  of  a  Cauftic. 

1  For  there  is  no  other  way  to  enlarge  and  open 
the  Veflels. 

1  1  This  is  the  common  Method  by  whichNature 
purges  herfelf;  namely,  when  a  VefTel  is  obftrucl:- 
ed  and  concreted  with  the  obftrucling  Matter,  fo 
as  to  become  impervious  or  ufelefs  to  the  Circula- 
tion ;  then  Nature  or  the  Vis  Vita  urging  behind 
the  Obftruction  there,  breaks  off  the  obftructed 
Part  of  the  VefTel,  and  then  diffolves  it  together 
with  the  obftructing  Matter  into  an  uniform  cream- 
like Subftance,  called  Pus  or  Matter;  but  the  re- 
maining found  Part  of  the  VefTel  ftill  continues 
pervious  to  the  Humours,  which  being  urged  for- 
ward, and  applied,  by  the  Vis  Vita^  reftore  and 
elongate  the  VefieJ,  till  it  is  almoft  extended  to  its 
former  Length.  It  is  therefore  evident  how  wrong- 
ly Paracelfus  and  the  Chemifts  always  condemned 
Suppuration  ;  for  thofe  who  attempt  to  ?  difperfe 
3  Humours 


§.  1 1 68.  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  365 

Humours  which  are  already  begun  to  fuppurate, 
will  diflipate  the  more  fluid  Parts,  and  dry  up  the 
reft,  fo  as  to  form  a  Scirrhus  or  Cancer,  and  fome- 
times  a  Gangrene. 

3  So  foon  as  a  white  and  uniform  Matter  appears 
on  the  Part,  the  Tumor  ought  to  be  opened  by 
the  Scalpel. 

§.  1167.  The  Diforders  of  the  Humours 
vitiated  in  their  whole  Mafs,  being  firft  difco- 
veredandunderftood,  agreeable  to  the  Doctrine 
of  Signs  before  defcribed,  (§.  910  to  919.) 
indicate  Medicines  of  a  contrary  Nature. 

§.  1 168.  Namely,  too  great  a  Fluidity  1  of 
them  requires  Infpiffation  or  thickening,  to 
be  procured  1 .  by  the  Ufe  of  Jellies  and  gela- 
tinous Aliments  taken  from  Animals  and  Ve- 
getables; 2.  the  drinking  of  watery,  mealy, 
and  unfermented  Liquors ;  3.  by  increafing 
the  Actions  of  the  Vifcera,  by  the  Means  be- 
fore-mentioned (§,  1159.);  4.  by  the  proper 
Ufe  of  the  feveral  Cordials  before-enumerated 
(§.  1 107.) 

1  All  our  Aliments  when  formed  into  Chile,  are 
lighter  than  the  Blood,  but  have  their  Parts  gra- 
dually rendered  more  compact  by  the  Action  and 
CompreMion  of  the  VefTels  and  Vifcera.  Hence  a 
Confumption  cannot  be  cured,  but  by  giving  the 
Blood  a  more  compact  or  firm  Texture  by  a  due 
Motion  from  the  Solids.  But  the  Effect  of  this 
Motion  upon  the  Humours  when  too  weak,  dif- 
folves  them,  whereas  a  greater  Motion  longer  con- 
tinued, renders  the  Humours  too  compact  and  fo- 
lid,  or  inclinable  to  Inflammation, 

§.  1169. 


J 

3  66  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §.1169, 


§.  1 1 69.  But  if  the  Humours  offend  by 
too  great  Thicknefs  \  they  require  Attenuation 
to  be  procured,  1.  by  feeding  upon  Aliments 
"which  are  fluid  and  mild  of  Digeftion,  fuch 
as  Flefh-broths  boiled  with  Pot-herbs  mode- 
rately attenuating,  as  Endive,  Succory,  Cher- 
vil], Smallage,  Cabbage,  and  Bread  well  fer- 
mented ;  2.  by  the  jlmrper  4  kinds  of  Pickles, 
Muftard,  Rocket,  Water-mint,  Water  and 
Laod-crefes,  Garden  and  Horfe-radifh,  Dit- 
tander,  Scurvy-grafs,  Capficum  pickled,  Oni- 
ons, Leaks,  Garlic,  and  the  feveral  Sorts  of 
Spices  from  the  Eafi  and  Weft-Indie 'St  &c.  3 . 
by  Drinks  throng,  fermented,  old,  Jpirituous  \ 
and  aromatic,  as  Ale,  Wine,  Brandy,  &c.  4. 
by  diluting  with  Drinks,  Fomentations,  Baths, 
and  Injections,  of  watery  Liquors  4  made 
warm,  and  aflifted  with  Exercife  of  Body, 
Running,  Fri&ions,  Riding  on  Horfe-back  or 
in  Carriages,  &c  5.  by  the  Ufe  of  ftimulating 
Sudorifics,  Diuretics,  Purges,  Vomiting,  Bli- 
ftering,  mercurial  and  aromatic  Medicines,  of 
which  we  mall  fpeak  more  hereafter  (§.  1 189. 
N°  5.)  ;  6.  by  the  Ufe  of  ftrong  Refolvents, 
as  fixed  and  volatile  Alcalies,  faponaceous  Salts 
and  Medicines  before-mentioned  (§.  1165.), 
with  the  feveral  Compofitions  which  may  be 
thence  formed. 

1  Sometimes  a  Tenacity  or  Thicknefs  too  much 
prevails  throughout  the  whole  Mafs  of  Humours, 
and  in  that  Cafe,  the  Ufe  of  Soap  with  Honey  and 
Sugar,  may  be  looked  upon  as  an  univerfal  Re- 


§.  1 1 69.  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  367 

medy  for  dilTo:"ing  almoft  every  kind  of  Tena- 
city ;  but  the  Ufe  of  thefe  ought  to  be  continued 
for  a  longtime,  till  the  Patient  finds  himfelf  much 
weaker,  and  even  reduced  by  a  Diarrh?eaor  tem- 
porary Diabetes.  I  have  myfelf  cured  the  mult 
ftubbornDitorders  of  the  abdominal  Vifcera,  agree- 
able to  the  Direction  of  Hippocrates,  by  the  Ufe . 
of  Honey  only,  but  given  plentifully,  and  for  fo 
long  a  time,  as  to  induce  a  Laxity  of  the  S-  lids, 
and  a  Diflblution  of  the  Fluids,  fo  to  make 
the  Humours  run  off  abundant  y  by  all  the  Emun- 
ctories.  The  fame  Effect  aifo  has  Muft,  or  the 
frefh  Juice  expreiTed  from  Grapes,  which  being 
given  plentifully  to  one  not  accuttomed  thereto, 
will  eafily  relax  every  Part,  and  diffblve  the  Fasces, 
fo  that  they  cannot  be  retained  by  the  Influence  of 
the  Will. 

*  Which  are  excellent  and  approved  by  repeated 
Experience,  for  they  increafe  the  Motion  of  the 
Blood  and  Humours,  and  by  that  Means  effectually 
attenuate  at  firft,  but  afterwards  they  compact 
both  the  Fluids  and  Solids;  nor  ought  they  to  be 
ufed  for  too  long  a  time,  otherwise  they  thicken 
and  render  the  Blood  more  denfe  than  it  ought 
to  be. 

3  Thus  Mum  being  drank,  difpofes  the  Body 
to  bear  mod  fevere  Cold  for  many  Hours,  which 
otherwife  could  not  be  endured.  Such  things  there- 
fore may  be  taken  into  Ufe,  whenever  the  Atte- 
nuation of  the  Humours  is  oppofed  by  Cold. 

4  Nothing  more  powerfully  diiToIves  Concre- 
tions than  Water,  afiifted  with  Heat  and  Motion, 
as  when  there  is  a  fall  of  hot  Water  upon  a  dif- 
eafed  Part,  efpecially  if  Frictions  are  made  ufe  of 
at  the  fame  time.  At  Aix  la  Chapelle  or  Acben, 
there  is  a  famous  Pump,  by  which  warm  Water 
is  poured  down  from  any  given  Height  upon  a 

difeafed 


368  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §.1170. 

difeafed  Part,  fo  that  by  the  Force  of  the  Water, 
and  its  Heat  infinuating  into  the  obftructed  Veffels, 
it  removes  even  Scirrhi ;  as  we  are  allured,  from 
the  moft  faithful  Accounts  of  wonderful  Cures ; 
which  may  be  made  by  other  Thermas  or  warm 
Baths  as  well  as  thefe,  aflifted  by  the  fame  Arti- 
fice, unlefs  the  Patient  rather  chufes  to  take  his 
Cure  from  thence. 

§.  1 170.  But  too  much,  or  violent  Motion 
of  the  Humours  through  the  VerTels,  which 
are  deftined  for  the  Circulation,  Secretion,  and 
Excretion  of  the  Humours,  indicates  an  Abate- 
ment 1  thereof  to  to  made,  1.  by  removing 
the  particular  Stimulus  which  irritating  the 
Fibres,  excited  that  increafed  Motion,  or  elfe 
by  correcting  that  Stimulus  z  with  oppofite 
Remedies,  more  efpecially  by  difcovering  the 
particular  Acrimony,  and  correcting  it  imme- 
diately by  the  Means  following  (§.  1172.  to 
1178.) ;  2.  by  diminifhing  the  whole  Mafs 
u  of  Fluids  3  or  laftly,  3 .  by  quieting  4  them 
with  Anodynes  and  Opiates. 

1  When  a  Diarrhaea  follows  from  an  acid  Caufe, 
it  is  very  eafily  fuppreffed  by  the  Ufe  of  Armenian 
Bole.  In  the  Diarrhoeas  of  Infants,  I  always  en- 
quire after  the  Colour  of  the  Stools ;  for  if  they 
are  green,  they  proceed  from  an  acid  Caufe  ;  and 
therefore  I  order  in  that  Cafe,  a  Dram  of  Chalk 
diffolved  in  Water  to  be  given  by  the  Mouth, 
and  the  like  to  be  injected  in  the  way  of  Clyfter. 
It  is  therefore  evident,  in  thefe  Cafes,  one  need 
only  determine  the  particular  kind  of  Acrimony, 
which  will  direct  the  proper  Method  of  Cure. 


1 1 7  2.  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  369 

1  In  the  Small-pox  and  Meafles,  the  Fever  can 
hardly  be  cured  until  the  wonderful  and  unknown 
morbific  Stimulus  be  firft  difcharged.  Every  thing 
taken  into  the  Body  to  Which  we  are  unaccuftomed 
excites  a  Fever  ;  whereas  every  thing  which  ap- 
proaches the  Nature  of  our  Humours,  and  to 
which  we  are  accuftomed,  excites  not  the  leaft 
Difturbance. 

3  This  Remedy  fucceeds  often,  but  not  always  5 
for  we  have  an  Inftance  of  a  Fever  in  a  Prince 
of  Spain,  which  became  worfe  after  forty  Bleed- 
ings. 

4  That  the  Motions  of  the  Mufcles,  Strainings, 
Calling  out,  and  Coughing,  may  not  obftruft  the 
intended  Cure. 

§.  1 171.  But  when  this  cireulatory  Motion 
is  too  low  and  fluggim,  it  muft  be  raifed  and 
excited  to  a  greater  Impetus,  1.  by  removing 
the  impediment,  or  correcting  it  with  proper 
Remedies ;  and,  2.  by  the  Ule  of  Attenuants 
(§.  1 169.)  and  by  Cordials  (§.  1095. t0  111 5') 

§.  1 172.  The  Acrimony  of  the  Humours 
in  general  being  known  (§,  910.)  does  in  ge- 
neral alfo  indicate  a  Reduction  of  the  Acri- 
mony to  a  greater  Mildnefs  or  Inactivity  $ 
which  is  performed,  1.  by  feeding  conftantly 
upon  thofe  Aliments  which  are  almoft  infipid, 
farinaceous,  gelatinous,  and  replenifhed  with 
a  foft  Oil  efpecially  Milk  and  Bread,  taken 
with  fomething  to  prevent  it  from  turning 
four ;  Flefh-broths  lately  made  of  young  Ani- 
mals by  boiling,  Flefh-meats,  and  Fifh  not 
ftale,  Wheat-bread  well  fermented  or  raifed, 

B  b  an<| 


37°  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §.  1173. 

and  thoroughly  baked,  fweet  Almonds  no 
old,  Cocoa-nuts  brought  from  both  the  Indies 
with  their  Milk,  Piftachia-nuts^  fweet-tafted 
and  perfectly  ripe  Garden  Fruits ;  2.  by  the 
drinking  of  Water  1 ;  3.  by  Reft  and  Com- 
pofure  of  Body  and  Mind  \  4.  by  mild,  wa- 
tery, mealy,  and  fomewhat  oily  Ingredients 
prepared  in  form  of  a  Ptifan,  Emulfion,  Fo- 
mentation, Bath,  Clyfter,  or  Injection  $  and 
laftly,  5.  by  the  Ufe  of  Opiates  and  Ano- 
dynes. 

1  Nature  has  furnifhed  us  with  nothing  more 
oppofite  to  Acrimony  than  Water  ;  for  this  is 
never  changed  by  any  Art,  nor  ever  becomes  acrid 
of  itielf,  but  allays  and  reduces  all  Acrimony,  ex- 
cept perhaps  the  iulphureous  Metalline  and  arfeni- 
cal  Acrimony,  with  that  of  beaten  Glafs,  Dia- 
monds, &t. 

§.  1 173.  But  acid  Acrimony  (§.  912.)  re- 
quires to  be  more  particularly  corrected,  1. 
by  feeding  upon  Eggs,  Flefh,  Fifh,  and  fome- 
what oily  Food,  together  with  fuch  Pickles  or 
Seafoningas  determine  the  Humours  to  be  Alca- 
line  (§.  1 1 69.  N°  2.)  ;  by  watery  and  fomewhat 
oily  or  fat  Drinks,  as  the  feveral  kinds  of  Ale, 
efpecially  the  Brunfwick  Mum  \  among  Wine, 
Malmzyy  Canary,  Spani/h  Wine,  and  ftrong 
old  Mead,  &c.  3.  by  keeping  the  Body  at 
reft  1  as  long  as  there  is  any  great  Acrimony 
predominating,  introducing  Exercife  after- 
wards by  degrees,  till  at  length  it  may  be 
made  fufficiently  robuft,  keeping  up  a  chear- 


§.  1 1 73.  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  371 

ful  Mind  at  the  fame  time;  4.  by  the  Ufe  of 
Medicines  which  either  abforb  Acids,  as  the 
Powder  of  Crab's  Eyes,  Crab's  Claws,  Fifli 
Bones,  Oyfter  or  other  bhells,  Pearl,  Coral; 
Chalk,  fat  Earths  \  Armenian  Bole,  Lem- 
nian  and  fealed  Earth,  Blood  Stone,  Sanguis 
Draconis,  Filings  of  Iron,  Tin,  and  the  like, 
attenuated  and  prepared  by  Fire  or  Tritura- 
tion ;  or  elfe  fuch  Things  as  neutralize  or  con- 
vert an  Acid  into  a  compound  Salt  of  a  mild 
Nature,  eafily  diflblving  fuch  as  the  fixed 
and  volatile  alcaline  Salts,  and  faponaceous 
Remedies ;  or  elfe  fuch  as  obtund  or  fheath 
acid  Acrimony  by  their  emollient,  foft,  and 
oily  Nature  (§.  1157,  1 1 58.  N°  2.  and  3.)- 
or  laftly,  the  foft  watery  Liquors  which  dilute 
Acrimony  (§.  1172.  N°  2.  and  4.) 

1  The  feveral  forts  of  Ale  and  Wine,  which 
from  the  Abundance  of  their  Oil,  are  found  to 
keep  good,  even  under  the  Equator  fuch  as 
Mum,  Spani/h  Wine  and  Canary,  all  which  hardly 
ever  turn  four  from  the  Abundance  of  their  Oil. 

1  Becaufe  Motion  alone  would  only  make  the 
Acrimony  more  active  and  deftrudtive  ;  but  after 
the  acid  Acrimony  is  removed,  then  Exercife  pulls 
up  the  Diforder  by  the  Roots. 

3  The  Antients  highly  recommended  thefe  Earths 
in  the  moft  acute  and  putrid  Difeafes,  inafmuch  as 
they  fheath  the  Acrimony  by  their  Oilinefs;  and 
even  Galen  himfelf  took  a  Journey  into  the  Ifland 
of  Lemnos,  only  to  fee  the  celebrated  Bole  which 
is  there  dug  up  -y  and  many  Ages  after  him,  Pa- 
racelfus  went  into  the  Iflands  of  the  Mediterranean 
with  the  fame  View.    Thefe  Earths  diffolve  in  the 

B  b  2  Mouth, 


37-  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §,  1x74, 

Mouth,  with  a  foft  Oilinefs  lil^e  Fat  or  Butter,  and 
have  peculiarly  the  Property  of  fheathing  all  forts 
of  Acrimony. 

§.  1 174.  But  if  again  any  of  the  Acrimony 
is  difcovered  to  be  alcaline  (§.  911.),  it  will  I 
require  i.  the  Milk  of  Animals  feeding  upon 
foft  Herbs,   the  Whey  thereof,  fkimmed 
Milk,  Butter-milk,  Garden  fruits,  and  acid 
mealy  Vegetables,  or  fuch  as  are  eafily  in- 
clined to  Acidity  (§.  1100.)  are  alfo  proper; 
2.  Drinks  watery,   mealy,  fubacid,   or  but 
lightly  fermented ;  3.  by  keeping  the  Body 
at  reft  or  moderately  coc.1  -3  4.  by  Medicines 
which  neutralize,  abforb  or  dilute  Alcalies$ 
"   of  the  firft  kind,  are  thofe  which  convert  Al- 
calies  into  a  mild,  middle,  or  compound  Salt, 
eafily  diffolvable  and  difpofed  for  Motion  thro' 
the  Veflels  ;  fuch  as  almoft  every  kind  of  Acid, 
particularly  from  Animals,  four  Milk,  four 
Whey  and  Butter- milk  1   from  Vegetables,  1 
M§adow-forrel,  Wood^-forrel,  four  Trefoile, 
acid  Cherries,  Currants,  Elder-berries,  Bar- 
beries, Juice  of  Oranges,  Citrons,  Lemons, 
and  ripe  Grapes,  Mofell  and  Rhenifh  Wine, 
Vinegar  or  its  Spirit,  Rhenifh  Tartar  and 
its  Cream  or  Cryftals,  Tamarinds,  Juice  of 
Acafia,  &c.  frorn  the  Foffils,  Spirit  of  Sulphur, 
of  Vitriol,  common  Salt  and  Nitre,  either 
dulcified  with  Alcohol3  taken  per  fe  with  Wa- 
ter, or  mbred  with  fome  ether  Body  fo  as  tQ 
form  a  third,  as  the  Nitrurn  Nitratum,  or  Sea 
galt^ acidulated  by  tbeif  acid  Spirits,  SSc.  Thofe 

]\Jidiciae§ 


§.  1 1  76.  Indications  in  th&  Fluids.  373 

Medicines  which  obtund  or  abforb  acid  Acri- 
mony are  alfo  numerous,  as  the  vipcrine 
Troches ;  all  fat  and  loft  Earths  which  are 
efteefaed  Counterpoifons,  whether  brought 
from  Malta,  Armenia  or  Lcmnos,  &c.  to  which 
addj  all  foft  and  frefli  expreffed  Oils,  Brim* 
ftone  and  its  Flowers,  which  fheath  or  ob* 
tund  Acidities ;  and  laftly,  the  emollient, 
foft  and  diluting  Remedies  before  mentioned 
(§.  1 172.  N°2,  4.) 

§.  1 175.  If  the  Acrimony  is  difcovered  to 
be  muriatic,  (§.913.)  it  indicates  i.  a  Diet 
perfe&ly  frefli  or  without  Salt ;  2.  the  drink- 
ing of  Water  a  little  acidulated  with  fome 
fpirituous  Acid  5  3  .  the  Ufe  of  emollient, 
mealy  and  diluent  Medicines,  with  Lime- 
water  1 5  4.  and  laftly,  the  Ufe  of  thofe  things 
which  in  general  obtund  and  remove  all  forts 
of  Acrimony  (§.  1172.) 

1  Salted  Fltfli  which  will  not  depofit  its  Salr> 
even  by  three  times  boiling,  and"  Bacon  which 
retains  its  Salt  after  boiling  and  twenty-four  Hours 
Maceration,  readily  become  frefh  with  only  once 
boiling  in  Lime-water.  Hence  we  learn,  that  the 
muriatic  Scurvy  arifing  from  an  intimate  Con- 
junction of  the  Sea-falt  combined  with  our  oily 
Humours,  cannot  be  more  eafily  cured  by  any 
Medicine  than  by  Lime-water. 

§.  J 176.  An  oiIy>  aromatic,  bilious,  adult, 
putrid  or  rancid  Acrimony  \  requires  1.  a  Diet 
«f  taftelefs,  frefli,  and  mealy  Aliments,  Pot- 
B  b  3  herb*, 


374  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §.  1 1 77 ; 

herbs,  tart  Fruits,  and  Meats  moderately  aci- 
dulated ;  2.  a  Drink  made  of  Water*  and 
Oxymel  well  diluted,  or  a  Deco&ion  of 
Fruits  j  3.  by  keeping  the  Body  at  reft  and 
moderately  cool ;  4.  by  faponaceous  Medi- 
cines a  little  inclined  to  Acidity,  as  Honey, 
Manna,  Sugar,  Caflia  Pulp,  frefh  expreffed 
Juices  of  Garden-fruits  perfectly  ripe  (§?.  1 1 00. 
N°  2.)  with  certain  Pot-herbs  (§.  1165. 
N°  3.)  Oxymel,  Soap,  &c.  5.  fuch  things 
as  are  ufed  in  general  againft  all  forts  of 
Acrimony,  (§.  HJ2.) 

x  Such  a  rancid  Acrimony  as  frequently  arifes 
from  feeding  much  upon  Salmon,  and  other  fat 
Fifh ;  whence  faponaceous  and  acidulous  Subftances 
mixed  with  Water,  are,  in  fuch  Cafes,  highly  fer- 
viceable. 

*  For  Water  alone  repels  any  thing  that  is  oily, 
and  refufes  to  act  upon  it  as  a  Menftruum  ;  and 
therefore  Water  is  to  be  qualified  by  mixing  Honey 
with  it,  or  mild  Acids,  when  there  is  a  Tendency 
to  Putrefaction  ;  and  hence  Hippocrates  prefcribes 
the  Ufe  of  Oxymel  in  almoft  every  acute  Difeafe. 

§.  1177.  An  Acrimony  which  inclines  to 
be  acid  and  aujlere  \  indicates  the  fame  Me- 
thod of  Cure  as  before,  (§.  1173.  1169.) 

J  The  antacid  faponaceous  Medicines  are  here 
ufeful,  efpecially  Venice  Soap,  or  the  Soap  of 
Tartar  contrived  by  Starkey^  which  infringe  the 
Acid  by  their  Alcaly,  and  at  the  fame  time  dif- 
folve  and  attenuate  by  their  faponaceous  Force. 


6  §.  1 178. 


§.  1 1 79.  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  375 

§.  1 178.  Whoever  has  well  considered  and 
underftood  the  Principles  hitherto  mentioned 
for  the  Methods  of  healing,  and  who  has 
carefully  read  the  Works  and  learned  Cures 
tnade  by  Hippocrates  and  Galen,  fuch  a  one 
muft  be  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  Reme- 
dies neceffary  to  excite,  promote,  govern  and 
finifh  the  Concoction  1  and  Crifes,  both  in  acute 
and  chronical  Difeafes. 

• 

1  This  feems  to  be  no  eafy  tafk,  fince  the  Con- 
coctions are  as  various  as  the  Crudities  themfelves, 
andthefe  again  as  various  as  their  proximate  Caufes; 
from  whence  proceeds  that  infinire  Variety  in  the 
Method  of  healing.  Yet  in  genera!  is  this  Matter 
comprized  in  a  few  heads  which  are  fimple  enough 
for  all  that  Nature  does  by  Concoction,  is  to  at- 
tenuate  the  Humours  infpi Mated,  toobtund  thofe 
which  are  acrid,  relax  the  Fibres  and  VeMels  which 
are  rigid,  fcfr.  But  if  Nature  excites  too  much 
Motion  in  the  Humours,  they  are  to  be  quieted  j 
if  an  inflammatory  SpiMkude  offends,  the  VeMels 
are  to  be  relaxed,  and  the  Humours  to  be  atte- 
nuated that  they  may  freely  circulate. 

§.  1179.  For  thefe  Intentions  confift  only 
in  attenuating  what  is  too  thick  \  (§.  1169.) 
in  obtunding  what  is  acrid  (§.  1172,  to  117S.) 
in  opening  obftruc?ted  PafTages  (§.  1166.)  in 
corroborating  the  weak  and  lax  Solids  [§. 
1159.)  in  relaxing  the  rigid  (§.  115S.)  and 
in  moderating  the  Motions  (§.  1170,  1 171.) 
as  will  readily  appear  to  one  converfant  in  the 
Writings  of  the  antient  Phyficians. 

B  b  4  In 


g  76  Indications  in  the  Fluids*  §.  i  i  8cu 

1  In  a  Coryza  the  thin  Humours  are  to  be 
infpiffatad  ;  in  a  Pleurify  the  VefTels  are  to  be 
relaxed,  the  obftructing  Matter  attenuated,  and 
the  vital  Powers  moderated,  fo  as  to  concoct  or 
digeft  it  without  urging  too  violently. 

§.  n  80.  From  the  fame  Principles  we  may 
alfo  determine  what  one  ought  to  think  con- 
cerning the  boafted  Panacea  \  which  has 
been  at  all  times  cried  up,  and  efpecially  by 
the  Cherpifts ;  for  if  we  attentively  confider 
the  following  Axioms,  it  will  appear, 

j.  That  a  Panacea  does  not  act  by  its  own 
Virtue  upon  a  dead  Body. 

2.  But  that  it  requires  the  Action  of  Life 2 
remaining,  to  excite  it  to  exercife  the  Power 
&nd  Qualities  which  it  is  fuppofed  to  polTefs. 

3.  It  does  not  therefore  act  upon  any  Part 
of  the  Body  perfectly  mortified  \  but  adhering 
to  the  whole,  whether  fphacelated,  dried  up, 
Qr  converted  into  Pus  or  Ichor. 

4.  But  the  Extent  of  its  Virtues  terminates 
within  the  Parts  yet  living. 

5.  It  cannot  therefore  of  itfelf  reftore  the 
vital  Humours  loft. 

6.  Nor  can  it  reftore  thofe  Humours  to 
^heir  natural  or  healthy  Difpofition,  which 
have  been  once  corrupted ;  as  for  Example, 
Pus,  Ichor  putrid  Matter,  or  cancerous  Acri- 
viony  4. 

j%  No-  more  can  Medicine  reftore  the  folid  * 
Parts  once  loft  or  extirpated,  nor  VefTels,  Vif* 
5Qi*aj  pr  Limbs  perfectly  confumed. 

&  is 


§.  1 1 80.  Indications  in  th&  Fluids.  377 

8.  It  is  alio  evident,  that  many  and  very 
different  Difeafes  may  arife  from  one  and  the 
fame  fimple  Material  and  efficient  Caufe 6,  if 
it  is  applied  after  a  different  manner  to  dif* 
ferent  Parts  of  the  Body. 

9.  And  to  inftance  only  an  irregular  Mo- 
tion of  the  anirnal  Spirits1  differently  varied* 
may  produce^  maintain,  and  increafe  a  great 
Number  of  Difeafes^  with  various  Symptoms. 

10.  Nor  is  the  Variety  of  Difeafes  lefs, 
which  may  be  produced  from  ObJlrnBions  \ 
only,  with  the  A&ion  of  Life  remaining. 

Hi  And  laftly,  almoft  infinite  is  the  Va- 
riety of  Difeafes  arifing  only  from  Spafms, 
Flatus,  fmall  Stimuli  and  Poifons. 

1  By  this  Name  we  are  to  understand  Medicines 
which  inftantly  remove  all  manner  of  Difeafes, 
fuch  as  formerly  the  Chemifts,  and  fome  of  the 
Antients  have  affirmed  they  polfeffed  :  But  I  can 
even  find  Arguments  fufficient  to  difprove  the  Pof- 
fibility  of  a  Panacea,  from  the  Writings  of  thofe 
who  have  favoured  it  mod,  as  Paraceljus  and  Hel- 
mont.  For  Paracelfus  in  his  Surgery,  which  he 
wro:G  a  little  before  his  Deceafe,  plainly  confefTes, 
that  there  are  an  infinite  Number  of  Difeafes  not 
curable  by  his  Panacea :  and  Hehnont  the  elder 
afferts,  that  no  one,  though  pofieffed  of  all  the 
Secrets  in  Nature,  could  poffibly  cure  all  Difeafes  ; 
in  which  they  Ihew  themfelves  wifer  than  their 
Readers. 

%  Helmont  tells  us,  that  he  could  cure  many  Dif- 
eafes only  by  touching  the  Tongue  with  Butler's 
(Stone  i  this  I  do  not  deny,  having  feen  fomething 

of 


378  Indications  in  the  Fluids.  §.  1 1 80. 

of  the  like  Nature  ;  but  even  then  the  Medicines 
muft  be  allowed  to  aft  by  the  vital  Powers. 

3  No  one  ever  yet  pretended  to  be  able  to  con- 
vert Matter  again  into  the  folid  Veffels,  by  whofe 
Diffolution  it  was  formed.  If  you  apply  a  Me- 
dicine to  a  fphacelated  Part,  its  Action  will  be 
extended  to  the  very  Edges  of  the  Parts  yet  alive, 
and  forward  their  Separation  from  thofe  which  are 
dead,  yet  will  they  not  act  any  farther  than  the 
living  Parts. 

4  ParaceJfus  promifes  that  he  could  cure  a  Cancer 
by  arfenical  Medicines  but  happy  is  our  Age 
which  can  forefee  the  real  Effects  of  fuch  Medicines 
before  they  are  applied. 

5  I  know  this  has  indeed  been  affirmed  not  to 
be  out  of  the  Power  of  Chemiftry,  becaufe  the 
Claws  of  Crabs  grow  again,  or  are  perfectly  re- 
newed after  they  have  been  broke  off;  becaufe 
Crabs  are  often  found  with  one  Claw  exceeding 
fmall,  and  the  other  large.  But  at  prefent  it  ap- 
pears from  a  certain  Obfervation,  that  Crabs  chufe 
to  themfelves  certain  Places  to  n  eft  in,  where  they 
caft  off  their  ftony  Shells,  and  become  Foft  and 
naked,  till  they  are  again  incruftated  with  a  new 
Shell  ;  whence  it  follows,  that  the  Skin  indeed, 
but  not  the  Claws  of  the  Crab,  are  renewed,  in  the 
fame  manner  as  our  Cuticle,  being  abraded,  grows 
again  \  but  a  Finger  or  other  Limb  amputated,  is 
not  regenerated  in  the  fame  manner. 

6  Thus  the  Biood  being  confined  within  its  Vef- 
fels,  and  agitated  with  a  due  Motion,  maintains 
Life,  as  when  it  perfectly  ftagnates  it  makes  Death  ; 
but  if  this  Stagnation  of  the  Biood  mould  be  in  an 
Artery,  it  makes  an  Aneurifm,  in  the  Vein  a 
Varix,  under  the  Skin  a  Bruife  ;  or  if  it  mould 
burft  forth  from  the  Veffels  of  the  Nofe,  it  may 
excite  a  falutary  Haemorrhage,  but  if  in  the  Vef- 
fels 


§ .  1 1 8  r .  In  die  a  tions  in  the  Fluids.  3  yg 

fels  of  the  Brain,  it  will  produce  an  Apoplexy,  in 
the  Veffels  of  the  Lungs  an  Hsemoptoe,  and  laftly, 
in  the  Cavity  of  the  Thorax  an  Empyema,  &c. 
and  yet  this  may  be  healthy  or  good  Blood,  only 
producing  innumerable  Difeafes  by  a  change  of 
Place.  But  as  from  one  Humour  all  others  are 
derived,  it  maybe  granted,  fay  the  Chemifts,  that 
one  Medicine  may  cure  them  all.  Thus  the  fame 
Medicines  which  taken  inwardly  will  remove  an 
Inflammation  in  the  Finger,  will  likewife  remove 
an  equal  degree  of  Inflammation  in  the  Kidneys, 
Pleura,  and  other  internal  Parts. 

7  The  Spirits  director  govern  all  the  Sphincters 
and  Anaftomofes  throughout  the  whole  Body, 
whence  follow  an  infinite  Number  of  Diforders 
from  a  Disturbance  of  the  Spirits.  Hyfterical 
Women  often  become  paralytic  or  apoplectic  from 
flight  Paflions.  As  all  thefe  Diforders  lie  in  the 
fame  Humour,  and  the  Phyfician  cures  tKem  with 
Opium  •,  yet  it  cannot  be  thence  juftly  concluded, 
that  therefore  Opium  will  cure  all  Difeafes  :  tne 
nervous  Juice  or  Spirit  is  indeed  the  Governor  of 
the  whole,  yet  it  cannot  from  thence  be  efteemed 
always  a  Panacea,  according  to  the  Opinion  of 
Dr.  PheltpS)  Phyfician  to  the  Prince  of  Conde. 

8  Moft  chronical  Difeafes  arife  from  Obftruc- 
tions  but  ObftrucYions,  fo  far  as  they  are  fuch, 
all  give  way  to  the  Power  of  Mercury. 

§.  1 1 3* I  -  He  that  attentively  confiders  all 
that  has  been  here  advanced  with  the  greateft 
Truth,  will  Kkewife  fee  that  many  Difeafes 
are  often  removed  by  one  Remedy,  but  never 
all 1  Difeafes. 


One 


380  hidkations  in  the  Fluids.  §.1182. 

1  One  who  pretends  to  cure  a  Rupture  of  the 
Aorta  in  the  Thorax,  or' with  the  fame  Remedy 
to  correct  and  cure  Difeafes,  both  from  an  Acid 
and  Alcaly*  from  too  great  a  Thicknefs  or  Thin- 
ttefs  of  the  Humours,  which  are  diametrically 
oppofite,  nuift  appear  an  Impoftor  in  the -Eyes 
Of  all  confickrate  People. 

§.  £182.  But.  the  Remedies  hitherto  knowii. 
to  be  moft  univerfa!>  are  Water  \  Fire*  Mef* 
turf  *  and  Opium  \ 

*  This,  hot  by  its  own  Mobility,  but  by  the 
Heat  and  Action  of  a  healthy  Body,  is  a  wonder- 
ful DifTolver  and  Deobftruent. 

-  This  is  indeed  a  kind  of  Water,  but  founeen 
times  heavier  than  the  common,  and  fo  penetrating 
as  to  enter  PafTages  which'  Water  can  never  reach* 
whence  it  is  of  all  things  moft  admirably  dif- 
pofed  to  diflolve  and  attenuate  the  feveral  Hu- 
mours throughout  the  whole  arterial  and  nervous 
Syftem.  Hence  it  is,  that  this  Remedy  alone 
cures  alm'oft  one  third  Part  of  Difeafes,  and  thofe 
of  the  moft  ftubborn  and  incorrigible  Nature,  all 
forts  of  Ulcers  and  fcabby  Diforders,  &V.  and 
by  this  only,  Carpus  acquired  fo  much  Fame  by 
curing  the  moft  defperate  Ulcers  and  other  Dis- 
orders, that  he  was  faid  to  be  affifted  oy  the 
Devil. 

1  This  remedies  all  Diforders  of  the  Spirits* 
A  King  of  Great-Britain  who  was  no  Stranger 
to  PhyrTc,  faid  once  to  Dr.  Lower  ^  If  I  take  the 
Scalpel  from  you,  you  have  Water,  if  I  take 
away  Water  you  have  Opium*  and  even  deprived 
of  that  you  have  Mercury,  after  which  comes 
Fire, 

3 


§,  1 1 84.  Indkatlomln  theFluict?.  381 

§,1183.  And  indeed  by  the  fkilful  Ufe  of 
thefe  Means  kept  private  to  themfelves,  many 
have  acquired  very  great  Fame,  having  been 
reputed  by  the  Vulgar  to  poffefs  an  imiverfal 
Medicine  \ 

1  Helmont  placed  his  univerfal  Medicine  in  qui- 
eting the  Archeus  or  difturbed  Spirits ;  and  his 
Secret  for  this  Purpofe  was  communicated  by  his 
Son  to  Mr.  Boyle,  to  be  nothing  more  than  Opium 
fermented  with  the  Juice  of  Quinces,  which  is  not 
in  the  leaft  more  efficacious  than  the  Opium  crude, 
Paracelfus  acquired  to  himfelf  great  Fame  by  the 
Ufe  of  Laudanum,  the  Phyficians  in  his  Days  not 
claring  to  make  ufe  of  Opium  ;  and  to  this  he 
added  the  ufe  of  Mercury,  'till  that  Time  not 
known  in  Germany,  which  he  gave  under  the 
Denomination  of  Turbith  j  to  which  add  his 
Elixir  Proprietatis.  One  pofiefTed  of  the  Know- 
ledge of  fo  efficacious  Medicines  in  fuch  an  Age 
of  Ignorance,  might  well  acquire  to  himfelf  the 
Reputation  of  an  jEfculapius.  But  even  Para- 
celfus himfelf  acknowledges,  the  principal  of  his 
Medicine  to  be  TTurhith  Mineral,  wafliecl  with 
Spirit  of  Wine. 

§.  1 184.  And  from  hence  again  it  is  alfq 
evident,  which  Medicines  may  be  juftly  faid 
Jo  be  the  bed  in  any  Difeafes ;  and  whether 
or  no,  there  are  any  that  can  t>e  generally 
rejied  upon  in  all  Cafes, 


382 


§.  1 1 86 


be  evacuated  two  ways ;  either,  1 .  by  the 
natural  Emun6lories  or  Outlets  of  the  whole 
external  Skin,  Noftrils,  Mouth,  Fauces,  Oe- 
fophagus,  Stomach,  Inteftines,  Bladder,  and 
Urethra;  or,  (2.)  by  artificial  Evacuations  1 
made  by  the  Lancet  in  opening  the  Blood- 
veffels,  as  Phlebotomy,  Arteriotomy,  Scarifi- 
cations, Leaches;  and  in  the  lymphatic  Veffels 
by  Cauftics  and  Veficatories ;  as  alfo  both  from 
the  fanguiferous  and  ferous  Veffels  together, 
by  Iffues,  Setons,  Ulcers,  and  Fiflulae. 

1  Thefe  either  a£t  upon  the  fanguiferous  Veffels 
by  difcharging  pure  Blood,  or  upon  the  Lympha- 
tics by  procuring  a  ferous  Difcharge. 

§.  1 186.  Hence  the  firft  Difunftion  of  eva- 
cuating Remedies  is  taken  from  the  different 
EmunEtory  1  through  which  they  difcharge  the 
morbific  Matter. 

*  When  the  Matter  to  be  evacuated  is  to  be 
difcharged  through  the  falival  Veffels,  then  the 
evacuating  Remedy  is  termed  a  Sialogog  ;  when 

upwards 


Curative  Indications  in  evacuating  the 
Fluids. 


§.  1 1 88.      OJ  Sudorific*.  38 3 

upwards  from  the  Stomach,  a  Vomit ;  when  down 
by  the  Anus,  a  Purge, 

§.  1 1 87.  But  the  other  Diftindion  of  the 
evacuating  Medicines  is  taken  from  the  Diffe- 
rence of  the  Humours,  or  Matter  evacuated 
from  each  particular  Part. 

Of  SUDORIFI  CS. 

§.  1 1 88.  TN  the  fir  ft  place  therefore  from 
J_  the  Body  by  the  Emundtory  of 
the  Skin  are  difcharged  the  perfpirable  Matter 
and  Sweat;  but  the  Medicines  which  promote 
Perfpiration  only,  are  termed  Diaphoretics  \ 
as  thofe  which  promote  Sweat  are  termed 
Sudorifics  5  there  being  no  great  Difference 
betwixt  them,  except  in  the  greater  or  lefs De- 
gree of  their  Force  and  Adtion.  Of  this  kind 
are  (1.)  all  thofe  Medicines  which  powerfully 
move  the  Humours  throughout  the  Body 
(§.  1 1.7 1.) j  (2.)  thofe  which  at  the  fame  time 
dimimjh1  the  Refiftance  of  the  exhaling  and 
other  VefTels  in  the  Skin. 

1  Diaphoretics  differ  from  Sudorifics  only  in 
degree  of  Strength  ;  the  former  exciting  only  an 
Increafeof  the  invifible  Vapours  which  exhale  from 
the  Skin  without  being  obierved  by  the  Eye. 

z  Any  Perfori  who  is  perfectly  in  Health,  may- 
be thrown  into  a  Sweat  only  by  relaxing  the  Skin 
with  an  external  Warmth. 

§.  nS9. 


3 §4  Of  Sudorijics.      §.  ji8g, 


§.  1 1 89.  Sweat  is  promoted  chiefly  (1.)  by 
plentiful  drinking  of  watery  Liquors  very 
warm;  (2.)  by  the  Ufe  of  fermented1  Acids, 
Vinegars  z,  and  efpeciaily  diftilled  and  prepared 
from  Vegetables,  or  the  highly  attenuated 
foffil  Acids  dulcified  with  Alcohol,  or  fubtir 
lized  by  repeated  Diftillation  (§.  1 174.  N°  4.) ; 
more  efpeciaily  if  thefe  are  mixed  and  drank 
'with  warm  Water.  (3.)  The  Ufe  of  Alcalies 
both  volatile  and  fixed,  well  diluted  in  warm 
watery  Liquors.  (4.)  All  compound  or  neu- 
tral Salts3,  as  they  are  termed  (§.  1165.  N°  2.) 
diflblved  in  the  fame  Liquors ;  to  which  may 
be  referred  Soaps  (§.  1165.  N°  3.)  the  Crys- 
tals of  Metals,  or  their  Salts  joined  with  the 
forementioned,  or  their  metalline  Particles 
themfelves  highly  attenuated,  and  npt  too 
violent  or  acrid,  as  the  common  diaphoretic 
Antimony 4,  and  that  of  Helmont ;  the  fixed 
Sulphur  of  Antimony  of  Tachenius,  Bezoar 
Mineral,  Mercurius  diaphoreticus,  Aurum 
diaphoreticum  5  Crollii,  Cinnabar,  and  many 
of  the  like  kind,  which  upon  Examination  are 
found  of  little  or  no  Adtion,  whence  they  are 
termed  Diaphoretic;  or  if  they  happen  to  unite 
with  iom^f aline Acrimony6,  then  they  often 
excite  Sweat.  (5.)  By  the  Ufe  of  Aromatics 
abounding  with  an  acrid  and  fubtle  Stimulus, 
fuch  as  Abfinthium,  Abrotanum,  Ageratum, 
Apium,  Afparagus,  Anifum,  Angelica,  Afa- 
rum  diu  codtum,  Afclepias,  Acorns,  Ariftolor 
-  £hia,  Animoniacuri)  gunjmi,  Bard^na,  Beca-r 

buiiga, 


V 


§.  1 1 89.      Of  Sudorifics.  385 

bunga,  Betonica,  Carlina,  Carduus  benedictus, 
Calamintha,  Caltha,  Cardiaca,  Caryophylla- 
ta,  Carum,  Caryophilli,  Centaurium  minus, 
Cinnamomum,  Crocus,  Chamaemelum,  Ca- 
pilli  Veneris,  China,  Di&amnus  creticus,  Dic- 
tamnus  albus,  Eupatorium,  Eryfimum,  Eru- 
ca,  Galenga,  Gentiana,  Hyffopus,  Laurus, 
Levifticum,  Marrubium,  Matricaria,  Melif- 
fa,  Mentha,  Nafturtia,  Origanum,  Porrum, 
Pulegium,  Rofmarinus,  Ruta,  Sabina,  Salvia, 
Sanicula,  Sarfaparilla,  Saffafrals,  Satureja,  Sca- 
biofa,  Scolopendria,  Scordium,  Serpillum,  Ta- 
nacetum,  Thlafpi,  Thymus,  Veronica,  Virga 
aurea,  Urtica,  Zedoaria;  with  various  Com- 
pofitions  from  thefe,  with  the  Addition  of 
Theriaca,  Mithridate,  Diafcordium,  Orvie- 
tans  \  and  many  more  of  the  like  nature,  a- 
greeable  to  the  Experience  and  Choice  of  the 
Phylician. 

1  Rhenifti  Wine  made  warm  is  a  certain  Sudo- 
rific. 

1  There  is  not  any  Sudorific  more  powerful 
than  one  Ounce  of  Vinegar  mixed  with  twenty  of 
warm  Water. 

3  Almoft  every  kind  of  Salt  when  diflblved  in 
Water,  fo  as  to  pafs  through  the  Veflels  of  the 
Body,  excites  Sweat  by  ftimulating  the  Fibres  and 
Veflels. 

4  All  thefe  act  by  the  fame  Power  in  a  lefs  De- 
gree, as  that  by  which  they  excite  vomiting,  if 
warm  Liquors  are  drank  afterwards.  For  every 
mineral  Emetic  weaken'^,  excites  an  Uneafinefs  or 
Anxiety,  with  Sweats  throughout  the  whole  Body, 
provided  warm  watery  Liquors  are  drank.  Nor 

C  c  even 


386  Of  Sudorifcs.  §.1190. 

even  will  a  Dram  of  Theriaca  excite  Sweat,  unlefs 
afiifted  by  the  drinking  of  about  twenty  Ounces  of 
Water,  or  fome  other  warm  Liquor. 

5  This  is  a  Species  of  the  Aurum  fulminans, 
which  given  in  an  increafed  Dofe  is  a  Poifon,  cauf- 
ing  Gripes,  Convulfions,  feta  as  Hoffman  tefti- 
fies. 

6  This  may  likewife  poffibly  be  faid  of  Cinna- 
tar. 

7  Thefe  have  been  highly  efteemed  as  Myfteries 
and  Secrets,  'till  being  commonly  known  they 
have  loft  their  Reputation. 

§.1190.  But  the  latter  (§.  1188.  N°  2.) 
is  promoted  chiefly,  ( 1 .)  by  keeping  the  whole 
Skin  perfectly  clean  with  Vapours,  Lotions, 
Baths  and  Frictions;  (2.)  by  relaxing  all  the 
cutaneous  and  fubcutaneous  fmall  VefTels ; 
which  is  moft  happily  procured  by  the  Va- 
pours of  hot  Water  1  applied  to  the  whole 
Skin,  except  the  Head;  (3.)  by  increafing  the 
external  Heat  round  the  naked  Body  by  the 
Warmth  of  the  Bed,  a  vaporous  Bath,  or  the 
burning  Spirits  of  Wine  \  By  all  thefe  means 
(§.  1 1 89,  1 190.)  acting  in  a  lefs  degree,  in- 
fenfible  Perfpiration,  or  a  Diaphorefis,  is  pro- 
moted in  (lead  of  Sweat. 

■  When  a  Sweat  cannot  be  raifed  by  any  Medi- 
cine, the  naked  Body  covered  only  with  a  Cloak 
ought  to  be  placed  over  warm  Vapours,  by  which 
means  the  whole  Body  will  run  down  in  a  little 
time  merely  from  a  Relaxation  of  the  cutineous 
VefTels.  Nor  is  there*  any  Diaphoretic  more 
powerful  than  warm  Vapours. 

3  !a 


§.  1 1 9'.      Of  Sudorijics.  387 

z  In  the  Venereal  Difeafe  which  has  fpread  its 
Roots  into  the  Bones,  there  remains  no  other  Me- 
thod of  Cure  than  to  fill  the  Body  with  a  Decocti- 
on of  the  Woods,  efpecially  Guaiacum,  till  it  is 
become  almoft  dropfical  •,  and  then  including  the 
Patient  in  a  Box  with  only  his  Head  out,  Spirits 
of  Wine  are  to  be  burnt  within  the  Box,  that  the 
afcending  Vapours  may  come  round  his  Body, 
which  will  then  run  down  with  Sweat.  When 
this  Method  of  treating  the  Patient  is  accompanied 
with  plentiful  drinking,  fo  profufe  a  Sweat  may  be 
excited,  that  I  have  feen  in  two  Hours  time  the 
mod  thick  Scabs  feparate  and  fall  off  from  the 
Forehead,  and  every  thing  drank  immediately  ran 
out  through  the  Skin.  But  this  Vapour  of  burn- 
ing Alcohol,  as  I  have  demon  ftrated  in  my  Che- 
miftry,  is  nothing  more  than  Water,  if  it  be  catch- 
ed  in  a  Receiver  :  it  lofes  indeed  about  a  fixteenth 
Part,  which  is  perhaps  of  a  faline  and  airy  Nature, 
Hence  it  appears,  that  in  this  Cafe  Alcohol  ope- 
rates as  Water,  into  which  its  Elements  or  conftU 
tuent  Parts  are  converted  by  Deflagration. 

§.  1 191.  The  Body  is  prepared  to  facilitate 
the  Operation  of  thefe  Means,  if  neceflary, 
(1.)  by  a  previous  Attenuation  (§.  1169.)  and 
Dilution  of  the  Humours  ;  (2.)  by  relaxing  x 
the  Veffels  (§.  2 158.)  and  by  opening  them 
(§.1166.) 

»  In  the  Cure  of  venereal  Patients,  I  order  the 
Body  to  be  firft  well  rubbed  with  warm,  rough 
Flannels,  and  afterwards  for  them  to  dfink  plen- 
tifully till  they  are  faturated  with  the  Decoction. 


CC2  §.1192 


388  Of  Sudorifics.  §.1192, 


§.  1 192.  Perfpiration  and  Sweat  are  indi- 
cated in  Difeafes : 

1.  By  the  Appearance  of  an  incipient,  grofs, 
critical 1  and  relieving  Sweat,  mitigating  the 
Difeafe, 

2.  From  the  Tenuity  of  the  morbific  Mat- 
ter, which  either  is  or  mull  be  difperfed  thro- 
out  all  the  Veflels ;  as  in  the  Plague,  veno- 
mous Bites,  and  in  fome  kinds  of  the  Pox  % 
where  the  Virus  is  fubtle,  and  not  yet  fixed. 

3.  From  the  particular  Habit1  or  Difpofi- 
tion  of  the  Patient  to  encourage  this  kind  of 
Evacuation. 

4.  From  the  known  epidemical 4  Conftitu- 
tion  or  Nature  of  the  Difeafe. 

5.  From  the  iibundance  and  Variety  of 
Obitructions  throughout  the  whole  Body  to 
be  refolved  5  efpecially  in  cutaneous  Difeafes, 
as  the  Itch,  Mange  or  Scab,  Leprojy  5S  and 
the  Pox,  with  Ulcers  or  Scabs. 

1  Hence  Sweats,  which  in  the  Beginning  of  the 
Difeafe,  would  have  proved  fatal,  are  falutary  to- 
wards the  latter  End. 

1  When  a  Per;on  is  Troubled  with  venereal  Ul- 
cers and  Tumors  under  the  £kin,  I  enquire  whe- 
ther or  no  there  are  any  Pains  in  the  Bones,  or 
at  the  Pubis  ;  if  I  am  anfwered  in  the  Negative, 
I  then  perceive  that  the  morbific  Matter  tends  out- 
ward, and  will  be  more  eafily  cured  by  Sweats 
than  by  Saiivation,  and  therefore  I  purfue  the  for- 
mer Courfe. 


For 


§,  1 1  g  3 .    Of  Sternutatories.  389 

5  For  there  are  fome  Patients  extremely  difficult 
to  fweat,  as  well  from  the  natural  Texture  of  the 
Skin,  as  the  Difpofition  of  their  Humours. 

4  In  the  firft  beginning  of  the  Plague,  I  believe 
the  Patients  might  be  cured,  if  they  were  fweated 
in  a  Box  by  burning  Alcohol  under  them,  pro- 
vided they  drank  plentifully  of  acid  Ptifans  in  the 
mean  time.  For  that  the  Plague  may  be  cured 
by  fweating  is  acknowledged  by  every  one,  only 
the  Difficulty  lies  in  procuring  a  Sweat-,  but  there 
is  no  Method  of  exciting  a  Sweat  more  powerful 
than  that  afore  propofed. 

5  By  this  Method  I  once  cured  a  Girl  of  Qua- 
lity that  was  perfectly  Leprous  \  and  I  have  fren 
others  much  relieved  by  it,  though  the  Diforder 
has  returned  again. 

sr*;  *fc    Tt%  f^  jtk*i«    »k*ts  »T7r%  *k*k    jr*#n  3nt 

aft*  WW  WWsieW  _WW_  W~W_JK;;aL  WW  WW  WW  W 

m**?\  ^T^^Ti  TTT^^XK  irT^^T»\  TTT^^Tn  ^T^^m     ^TS^^TTS  fflS^^VIi  ^^■■■^t^  7rH*m^XK 

Of  Apophlegmatifms,  #r  Sternuta- 
-  tories. 

§.  1  1 93.  A  LL  the  Parts  of  \heSchnei- 
Jl\.  derian  or  Pituitary  Membrane 
are  evacuated  into  the  Noftrils,  though  the 
Membrane  itfelf  is  of  large  Extent,  diftributed 
through  various  Cavities  (§.494.)  and  iecerns 
a  Mucus  (§.  497.)  commonly,  but  falfely 
efteemed  a  phlegmatic  1  Excrement  of  the 
Brain 1 ;  and  into  the  fame  Cavities  of  the 
Noftrils,  are  likewife  difcharged  the  Liquor 
which  naturally  moiftens  the  Eyes  and  the 
Tears  (§.  913.)  j  as  alfo  the  liquid  or  ferous 
C  c  3  Humours 


39<3       Of  Sternutatories.  §.1194, 

^tumours  which  flow  in  a  Coryza  or  Cold  ; 
as  alfo  the  thicker  Humour  in  a  phlegmatic 
Catarrh,  or  Defluxion  5  from  whence  it  is 
evident,  that  a  great  Quantity  of  Humours 
jnay  be  evacuated  by  this  Emundtory,  as  well 
ty  the  Force  of  Nature  in  Difeafes,  as  by  the 
Power  of  Medicines, 

1  By  this  Term  we  underftand  the  Mucus  of 
the  Nofe,  CEfophagus,  Stomach,  Interlines,  Fauces, 
(Sc. 

1  Jkcaufe  the  Brain  is  relieved  by  the  Difcharge 
of  this  Mucus,  inafmuch  as  it  makes  a  Periva^ 
tion  from,  the  Branches  of  the  external  carotid 
Artery, 

§,  1 194,  This  Evacuation  is  indicated  to  be 
made, 

It  By  a  cold  Coryza,  Catarrh,  orfneezing 
DXorder,  a  Difcharge  of  purulent  Matter 
through  the  Noftrils,  and  Diforders  of  the 
Eyes,  wherein  the  Tears  abound. 

2.  From  the  Difpojition 1  of  the  Patient, 
receiving  much  Eafe  or  Relief  from  this  kind 
of  Evacuation. 

3.  When  a  Revulfion  is  neceflfary  to  be 
Ciade  from  the  Lungs,  in  the  Diforder  called 
Branchus,  in  a  Peripneumony  %  Phthifis,  or 
Defluxion  from  the  Lungs  from  a  Cold. 

*  For  there  are  fome  Habits  in  which  the  Hu* 
mours  purge  themfelves  almoft  entirely  by  Mucus ; 
and  therefore  this  Excretion  is  fo  ferviceable  in 
thefe  Habits,  that  a  Coryza  often  prevents  and 
turns  off  approaching  Difeafes,    There  are  many 

healthy 


§.ii95-    Of  Sternutatories.  391 

healthy  People  who  fcarce  ever  ail  any  thing,  but 
are  troubled  with  fuck  a  Defluxion  about  once  in 
a  Month  ;  and  in  fuch,  this  Evacuation  ought  to 
be  maintained  and  encouraged. 

1  Hippocrates  directs  us  in  Diforders  of  the 
Lungs,  when  there  is  Danger  of  a  Confumption 
following  from  the  Difcharge  of  fait  Mucus,  to 
make  a  Derivation  of  the  Matter  this  way  and  I 
always  hope  myfelf  to  make  a  Cure  of  a  Phthifis, 
when  I  am  able  to  keep  the  Schneiderian  Mem- 
brane fufhxiently  lax. 

§.  1 1 95.  This  Evacuation  is  excited  by  the 
Ufe  of  Fomentations,  Vapours,  or  Decoctions 
fhuffed  up  the  noftrils;  as,  1.  Warm  Water  \ 
in  which  emollient  Ingredients  have  been 
boiled  a  long  time,  2.  the  fame  Decoction 
rendered  a  little  (harper,  by  adding  a  fmall 
Quantity  of  Honey  or  Sugar;  3.  by  a  De- 
coction of  the  Herbs  and  Flowers  of  Betony, 
Lavender,  Marjoram,  Pennyroyal,  Rofemary, 
and  Rue,  with  Honey ;  4.  the  forementioned 
green  Herbs  contorted  and  thruft  up  the  No- 
ltrils ;  5.  by  the  fluffing  up  of  every  thing 
which  is  Jharp  z  and  ftimulating,  as  Sugar, 
common  Salt,  fal  Ammoniacum,  Powder  of 
Antimony,  &c.  or  fuch  as  are  in  fome  Mea- 
furc  cauftic,  as  ftrong  Tobacco,  nigella  Syl- 
veftris,  Hellebore,  Euphprbium  \  to  which 
add  Errhines,  Ptarmica,  &c* 

1  Nothing  is  better  for  this  Purpofe  than  Wa- 
ter boiled  with  Mallows,  fnuffed  up  the  Noftrils 
out  of  the  Palm  of  the  Hand,  and  likewife  taken 
in  by  the  Mouth :  for  this  will  relax  the  whole 
C  C  4  pituitary 


392      Of  Sternutatories.    §.  1196, 

pituitary  Membrane,  without  ever  exciting  any 
Pain  in  the  Head,  as  thofe  are  apt  to  do  which 
are  more  acrimonious.  By  this  Means,  even  the 
Ozsena  itfelf  has  been  fometirries  cured.  Water 
and  Honey  is  ftill  more  acrid,  and  irritates  the 
Parts  fo  as  to  make  them  weak.  So  fenfible  are 
thefe  Nerves,  that  they  are  irritated  by  many  things 
which  will  not  affect  others ;  namely,  by  Odours 
and  foetid  Smells. 

*  Sugar  beat  to  a  Powder  and  fnuffcd  up  the 
Noftrils  caules  Sneezing,  and  promotes  this  Eva- 
cuation. 

3  So  powerful  is  the  Action  of  Euphorbium, 
that  Mr.  Boyle,  in  his  Treatife  on  the  Ufefulnefs 
of  Experimental  Philofophy,  teftifies,  that  he  had 
twice  known  Cataracts  removed  in  each  Eye  by 
the  fame  Empiric  •,  and  in  another,  he  tried  the 
Experiment  with  Turbith  Minereal,  which  he  or- 
dered to  be  fnuffed  up  the  Noftrils  with  Sugar, 
which  in  a  little  time  excited  fuch  a  Difcharge  by 
fpitting,  Urine,  Vomiting,  and  Purging,  as  afto- 
nifhed  every  one.  Almoft  a  like  Method  of  Cure 
is  ufed  by  thofe  who  deal  in  Horfes,  for  the  farcy 
Worm  for  after  making  an  Jncifion  through  the 
nervous  and  fenfible  Skin,  they  infert  Hellebore  ; 
or,  as  Dr.  Willis  tells  us,  they  perforate  the  Crani- 
um, and  infert  Hellebore  to  remedy  this  vertiginous 
Difeafe,  the  Staggers.  For  the  Medicines  which 
are  applied  to  this  Membrane,  communicate  their 
Force  almoft  immediately  to  the  Brain  itfelf, 

§.  1  j  96.  If  this  Evacuation  is  too  great,  or 
accompanied  with  too  violent  Sneezing,  or  a 
Diftillation  of  a  (harp  Humour,  it  may  be 
leffened  or  fapprejfed  \ 

1.  By 


1 1 96.    Of  Sternutatories.  393 

1.  By  new  Milk  1  boiled  with  Mallows  and 
fnuffed  up  the  Nofe  warm. 

2.  By  the  healing  Fumes  or  Vapours  raifed 
from  the  Gum  Benjamin,  Maftic,  Olibanum, 
Amber,  Frankincenfe,  or  the  milder  Aro- 
matics,  as  Marjoram,  Herb  Maftic,  Penny- 
royal, &c. 

Laftly,  If  this  Evacuation  be  exercifed  too 
conftantly,  it  may  induce  a  bad  Habit  \  fo 
as  to  caufe  a  perpetual  Draining  4  of  the  Hu- 
mours this  way. 

1  For  Sneezing  too  long  continued,  may  even 
occafion  an  Epilepfy. 

1  There  was  a  certain  School- matter  very  fond 
of  Rofes,  to  whom  the  mifchievous  Boys  ave 
iome  Rofes  fprinkled  with  Hellebore,  by  fmelling 
to  which  he  was  thrown  into  fuch  violent C onvul- 
fions,  that  he  would  certainly  have  penfhed,  if  I 
had  not  relieved  him  with  a  Dcco&ion  of  Mallows 
in  Milk.  Such  a  powerful  Influence  has  thefe 
Nerves  over  the  whole  Syftem,  that  upon  irri- 
tating them  with  a  Feather  in  the  Noilrils,  the 
Senfe  is  communicated  even  to  the  Fingers,  Toe?, 
and  moft  extreme  Parts  of  the  Body.  In  the  pre- 
fent  Practice,  this  kin  i  of  Evacuation  is  commonly 
neglected,  but  the  Ancients  made  ufe  of  it  with 
very  great  Succefs. 

3  Such  People  have  upon  every  flight  Altera- 
tion, a  Difcharge  of  the  redundant  Humours  this 
way  made,  whence  follows  a  p-rpetual  and  uneafy 
blowing  or  wiping  of  the  Nofe. 

4  The  Lymph  which  d  (tils  in  a  Coryza  is  fo 
fharp  as  to  excoriate  the  Lips,  and  it  may  be  ca- 
pable of  corroding  the  Lungs.    This  may  be  re- 
lieved by  drawing  up  the  Fumes  of  burning  Am- 
ber 


394  Of  Sialogogs.  §.1198. 

ber  for  three  or  four  Hours  together  through  the 
Noftrils  ;  but  this  muft  be  done  with  Difcretion, 
for  fometimes  it  dries  up  the  Membranes  too  much 
and  caufes  the  Head-ach. 

§.  1 197.  But  fince  the  Noftrils  (§.  1193.), 
falival  Dudts  (§.  65.)  Tonfils  and  Schneide- 
rian  Membrane,  all  difcharge  themfelves  thro* 
and  into  the  Mouth  \  therefore  the  Indications 
here,  with  the  Remedies,  Cautions,  and  Anti- 
dotes, are  the  fame  as  before  (§.  11 94.  to 
1 197.)  and  therefore  to  this  Place  alfo  be- 
longs Apophlegmaftifms  and  Gargles  K 

1  By  this  Name  we  underftand  warning  the 
Mouth  with  four  watery  Liquor  retained  for  a  con- 
fiderable  time ;  the  feveral  Particulars  of  which 
differ  hardly  at  all  from  the  preceding:  For  they 
are  applied  to  the  fame  Schneiderian  Membrane, 
which  lines  the  GEfophagus,  Noftrils,  Wind-pipe, 
Fauces,  and  back  Parts  of  the  Mouth. 


Of  Sialogogs. 

§.  1 198.    A  Plentiful  and  artificial  Evacua- 
X"\  tion  of  the  Saliva  is  indi- 
cated, 

j.  By  a  Crifis  made  this  Way. 
t.  From  the  particular  Nature  of  the  Dif- 
eafe  being  lodged  chiefly  in  the  Glands 1  and 

Membrana 


$.ii99-  Of  Sialogogs.  395 
Membrana  Adipofa;  but  more  efpecially  for 
the  venereal  Difeafe. 

3 .  From  the  epidemical  Nature  of  the  Dif- 
eafe. 

*  The  venereal  Difeafe  is  not  cured  by  a  Sali- 
vation, upon  the  Account  of  a  plentiful  Difchargc 
of  the  Saliva,  which  in  melancholy  People  often 
proves  of  no  Service  ;  but  becaufe  the  Mercury  in 
the  fame  Manner  exerts  its  Efficacy,  and  clears 
the  Paflfages  of  ail  the  other  Glands,  diflblving  the 
Bood  into  a  putrefying  Liquor,  like  that  which 
we  fee  comes  from  the  falival  Glands,  which  is  far 
from  the  Nature  of  healthy  Saliva.  But  we  chufe 
to  make  the  Difcharge  of  this  putrid  Humour  by 
the  Mouth,  becaufe  it  may  be  there  depofited 
without  inducing  any  worfe  Diforder.  I  am  in- 
formed of  a  Method  which  now  prevails  at  London^ 
of  curing  the  venereal  Difeafe  without  Salivation  ; 
upon  which  Treatifes  have  been  publifhedbyM'.C^;- 
coneau  and  Mr.  John  Douglas  \  but  I  have  not  had 
any  Experience  of  this  Method  to  juftify  it. 

§.  1 199.  The  Body  is  beft  prepared x  for 
this  Evacuation  by  a  previous,  plentiful,  and 
long  continued  Ufe  of  attenuating  Decodtions, 
which  are  diluent,  lenient,  and  actually  warm, 
made  of  Scabius,  Pellitory,  Burdock,  China, 
Sarfaparilla,  Saffafrafs,  and  Senders,  which 
are  here  the  chief. 

1  When  I  order  a  Salivation,  I  direct  the  Pa- 
tient's Body  to  be  firft  well  filled  for  a  Week 
with  Decoctions  of  Burdock,  till  the  Body  is  ren- 
dered ajmoft  dropfical. 


§♦  1200. 


39^  Of  Sialogogs.        §.  1 200. 


§.  1200.  This  Evacuation  is  excited  \ 

1 .  By  Mouth- waflies  or  Gargles  (§.  1 1 97.) 

2.  By  a  flow  and  continual  Majlication  2  or 
chewing  of  fome  tough  Matter,  as  Maftic, 
Wax,  and  Myrrh,  efpecially  when  mixed 
with  fomething  lharp  or  biting,  as  the  Radix 
Pyrethri,  Leucanthemum,  Canarienfe  fapore 
Pyrethri,  Ginger,  Pepper,  &c. 

3 .  By  drawing  in  fharp  Vapours  or  Fumes 
which  irritate,  as  of  Tobacco,  Sage,  Rofe- 
mary,  Marjoram,  Thyme,  both  garden  and 
wild,  ©V. 

4.  But  this  Evacuation  is  ftill  more  power- 
fully excited  by  the  A&ion  of  thofe Medicines 
which  create  a  flight,  but  long  continuing 
Naufeaj  fuch  as  the  Stibium  nitratum  notper- 
feftly  fixed,  nor  perfedtly  emetic  l,  with  a 
little  common  Vitriol  taken  at  the  fame  time. 

5.  Laftly,  by  ail  thofe  Remedies  which  in- 
timately diflblve  the  Parts  of  the  Blood  into 
Lymph  +,  and  give  them  a  Tendency  to  run 
off  by  the  falival  Glands ;  fuch  as  crude  Mer- 
cury, Cinnabar,  Mercury  diflblved  in  Aqua 
fortis,  white  and  red  Precipitate,  Turbith 
Mineral,  a  Solution  of  Mercury  fublimate, 
&c.  though  the  firft  of  thefe  will  anfwer  beft, 
aflifted  with  warm  Fomentations  of  the  Head, 
Neck,  and  Face. 

*  By  thefe  Remedies  may  the  Saliva  be  dif- 
charged  to  any  Quantity  agreeable  to  the  Pleafure 
of  the  Phyfician    but  it  is  more  efpecially  ufeful 

"  in 


§.i2oi.      OfSialogogs.  397 

in  Leucophlegmatia,  where  a  thin  Serum  is  re- 
quired to  be  this  way  difcharged. 

1  Guni-maftic  is  here  the  principal,  more  efpe- 
cially  when  compounded  with  Aromatics ;  for 
there  is  fomething  in  this  Gum  of  fo  irritating 
a  Nature,  and  at  the  fame  time  fo  clofely  confined 
in  the  Gum  itfelf,  that  it  will  continue  to  excite 
the  falival  Difcharge  for  eight  Hours  after  it  has 
been  worked  betwixt  the  Teeth. 

3  All  mineral  or  metalline  Bodies  which  abound 
with  a  flight  Acrimony  excite  a  Naufea,  power- 
fully open  Obftructions,  and  excite  the  falivary 
Difcharge.  For  when  a  Perfon  is  about  to  vo- 
mit, the  Saliva  flows  plentifully  ;  and  Hippocrates 
tells  us,  that  a  plentiful  Flux  of  Saliva  into  the 
Mouth  denotes  a  Vomiting  will  enfue  ;  and  thefe 
Remedies  being  ufed  to  remove  Obftructions  fel- 
dom  fail. 

4  Mercury  diflblves  the  red  Globules  of  the 
Blood  into  yellow  ferous  ones,  and  thefe  lad  again 
into  I  ,ymph,  fo  as  to  leave  hardly  any  Blood  re- 
maining \  all  the  Humours  being  for  the  moft  part 
difcharged  by  the  falival  Duels  under  the  Form 
of  a  putrid  Liquor.  Yet  does  Mercury  act  only 
by  the  Vis  Vita,  nor  will  it  kill  Worms  of  itfelf, 
without  being  aflifted  by  the  .Force  of  Life,  as 
it  is  reported  to  kill  Worms  in  Trees,  and  de- 
ftroy  Bugs  in  England, 

§.  i2oi.  A  too  copious  Salivation  is  fup- 
prefled  or  moderated  at  Laft, 

1.  By  a  plentiful  and  conftant  Ufe  of  fome 
warm  emollient  Drink,  as  a  Decoffion  1  of 
Mallows  and  Liquorifh  in  Milk  and  Water. 

2.  By  quieting  the  Violence  of  the  Sialo- 
gog  by  foft  and  oily  Emulfions,  with  the  Ad- 
dition 


3  9  8  Of  Sialogogs.       §.  1 2  o  r . 

dition  of  Anodynes  and  Diacodium,  or  Opi- 
um x  prudently  ufed* 

3*  By  making  a  Revuljion  1  towards  other 
Parts  by  any  large  Evacuation,  more  efpeci- 
ally  by  an  Hydrogog  or  ftrong  Purge  by  the 
Inteftines.  But  in  the  Ufe  of  thefe,  the  greateft 
Prudence  is  necefTary,  left  the  Violence  of  the 
Matter  put  into  Motion,  which  is  always  acri- 
monious in  this  Cafe,  might  fall  upon  other 
Parts  with  greater  Danger;  and  therefore  he 
will  command  fafely  in  this  Cafe,  who  juftly 
proportions  his  Remedy,  by  dividing  it  into 
feveral  Dofes  to  be  taken  at  fmall  Intervals. 

1  A  Perfon  in  a  Salivation,  even  regularly  car- 
ried on,  is  in  great  Danger,  and  is  Sometimes  at- 
tacked with  fuch  violent  Symptoms,  as  feem  to 
threaten  nothing  lefs  than  Death.  In  fuch  a  Cafe, 
the  Salivation  ought  to  be  moderated  by  a  De- 
coction of  this  Kind,  which  will  at  firft  increafe 
the  Violence  6f  the  Difcharge,  but  afterwards  will 
diminifh  its  Effects  or  Symptom.  Nothing  is 
better  for  this  Purpofe  than  Milk  and  Water  boiled 
with  Mallows  and  drank  plentifully. 

2  This  is  a  heavenly  and  molt  certain  Remedy 
in  quieting  a  too  violent  Salivation.  As  for  Purges, 
though  commonly  applauded,  I  cannot  recommend 
them ;  for  when  they  draw  the  acrid  Matter  to  the 
Bowels,  and  it  there  takes  up  its  Refidence, 
Death  is  by  that  Means  haftened. 

1  This  muft  be  cautioufly  performed,  for  the 
putrid  Lymph,  by  irritating  the  Nerves  of  the 
Inteftines,  will  excite  colicky  Pains  in  the  Bowels, 
and  fometimes  kill  the  Patient  by  that  means  in 
a  littie  time  or  if  it  attacks  the  Brain,  it  produces 
as  wonderful  and  fudden  Effects  as  a  Poifon. 

of 


§.  I2Q2. 


399 


Of  Emetics. 


§.  1202.X  T  OMITS  are  indicated, 


Bitternefs  of  the  Mouth  in  a  Morning,  from 
foetid  Belchings  \  Sicknefs  at  Stomach,  Heart- 
burn, a  gradual  Lofs  of  Appetite,  without 
a  concomitant  Fever  %  or  other  manifeft 
Caufe. 

2.  From  a  fpontaneous  Vomiting ?  and  great 
Eafmefs  4  of  this  Evacuation  to  the  Patient. 

3.  From  the  known  Nature  of  the  mor- 
bific Matter,  as  being  either  moveable  or 
fixed 5. 

4.  From  the  Part  afFefted  with  an  Ob- 
ftrudtion  and  Diftention  below  the  Dia- 
phragm 5  and  more  efpecially  when  this  is 
the  primary  Diforder,  without  being  attended 
with  any  other  thing  contra-indicating. 

5.  From  the  general  or  epidemical  Nature 
of  the  Difeafe. 


6.  From  the  Conftitution  or  Seafon  of  the 
Year  6. 


'  This  is  taken  notice  of  by  Hippocrates. 

*  For  if  a  Fever  attends,  there  may  be  an  In- 
flammation in  the  Stomach,  and  Vomiting  may 
be  hurtful ;  but  if  there  is  no  Inflammation,  a 
Vomit  generally  relieves. 


1.  From  the  Foulnefs  and 


Care 


4  co  Of  Emetics.        §,  1203. 

3  Care  muft  be  taken  to  obferve  that  this  Vo- 
miting does  not  arife  from  an  internal  Cancer,  or 
a  Scirrhus  in  the  Stomach  itfelf. 

4  Such  People  are  by  Hippocrates  termed  good 
Vomiters,  becaufe  they  eafily  empty  their  Stomach 
upwards.  But  in  fat  People  the  Head-ach  may- 
be occasioned,  or  an  Artery  may  be  burft  by  Vo- 
id ting. 

s  Vomits  not  only  evacuate  but  diflblve  and  at- 
tenuate the  Humours.  In  Parts  obftructed  near 
the  Diaphragm,  either  in  the  Vifcera  of  the 
Thorax  or  Abdomen,  a  Vomit  alone  will  fre- 
quently relieve  the  Complaint  ;  but  then  one 
ought  to  be  fatisfled  that  the  Vifcera  are  all 
found,  and  not  yet  weakened  or  broken  in  their 
Structure. 

6  According  to  which  People  are  in  general 
more  or  lefs  inclined  to  fuch  Evacuations ;  as  for 
Example,  in  the  Summer  and  Autumn,  when, 
according  to  Hippocrates,  People  incline  more 
eafily  to  Vomiting  but  more  difficultly  in  the 
Winter. 

§.  1203.  But  Emetics  zvt  forbid 1  by  every 
thing  contrary  to  the  foregoing  (§.  1202.) 

1  More  efpecially  when  Blood  is  difcharged  either 
upward  or  downward  from  the  Stomach  and  In- 
teftines;  in  which  Cafe  a  Vomit  may  excite  much 
greater  Oiforders.  People  in  an  Apoplexy  are 
mod  certainly  raifed  by  Vomiting  with  Vitriolum 
album  in  a  Draught ;  but  then  this  is  a  hazardous 
Operation  unlefs  cautioufly  managed,  fince  by  that 
means  the  Blood  is  more  accumulated  upon  the 
Brain,  and  a  new  Extravafation  may  follow. 

§.  1204. 


< 


1205.       Of  Emetics.  401 

§.  1204.  The  Body  of  the  Patient  is  pre- 
pared for  a  more  lafe  and  eafy  Vomiting, 

1.  By  rendering  the  Matter  to  be  evacu- 
ated moveable,  by  diluting,  attenuating  and 
refolving  (§.1169.  1 1 65.) 

2.  By  relaxing  1  the  Paflages,  and  lubri- 
cating them  with  emollient,  foft  and  oily 
Remedies. 

3 .  By  bleeding  2  the  Patient  before-hand  if 
Plethoric,  of  a  ftrong  Habit,  or  given  to 
much  Exercife. 

1  This  is  effected  chiefly  by  the  Ufe  of  foft  oily 
Draughts,  taken  until  the  Stomach  and  Interlines 
are  almoft  rendered  paralytic.  This  whole  Art  of 
vomiting  eafily,  is  delivered  by  Hippocrates  in  his 
TrtdLtikdeHelleborifmoi  preferved  and  handeddown 
to  us  by  Heurnius. 

1  For  frequently  when  this  Evacuation  is  neg- 
lected, plethoric  People  have  expired  with  an 
Apoplexy  in  Vomiting  •,  as  is  evident  from  the 
Catalogues  given  us  by  Patin,  of  the  Martyrs  by 
Antimony  or  Stibium.  For  in  the  Operation  of 
Vomiting,  all  the  Blood  is  determined  towards  the 
Brain,  as  is  evident  from  the  Giddinefs  or  Vertigo, 
and  Appearance  of  the  Face  and  Eyes,  which  laft 
run  down  with  Water  ;  but  in  this  Cafe,  the  ten- 
der Arteries  of  the  Brain  are  very  eafily  burft.  It 
is  therefore  a  prudent  Caution  of  Sydenham,  when 
he  advifes  to  premife  Bleeding  whenever  there  is 
occafion  for  Vomiting  in  Diforders  with  Fulnefs. 

§.  1205.  Vomiting  is  excited, 
1.  By  irritating  the  Spirits,  with  railing 
fome  Idea  in  the  Mind  capable  of  exciting  a 
P  d  great 

1  / 


40  2  Of  Emetics.        § .  1 2  o  £ 

great  Naufea  or  Averfion  ;  or  by  agitating 
them  with  fome  unufual  Motion,  as  by  fwing- 
ing,  tofiing  upon  the  Sea,  &c. 

2.  By  irritating  the  Fibres  of  the  Fauces 
and  Pharynx  with  an  oiled  Feather,  or  fome 
fuch  other  Body. 

3.  By  drinking  a  great  Quantity  of  warm 
Water  1  without  Salt,  and  mixed  with  Oil, 
Honey,  Sugar,  or  the  like. 

4.  By  every  thing  which  abounds  with 
acrid,  Simulating  and  vifcid  Particles  inter- 
mixed, as  the  Flowers  and  Seeds  of  Dill ;  the 
Leaves  of  Afarabacca  ;  the  Root  and  Seeds  of 
Orj-ach,  or  the  like  Parts  of  the  more  violent 
Plants,  as  of  Catapufia  or  Spurge,  Roots  of 
Sow-bread  5  Flowers,  Juice  and  Bark  of  dwarf 
Elder  ;  Flowers,  Seeds,  and  Roots  of  Broom, 
and  both  kinds  of  Hellebore  ;  Seeds  of  the 
Nafturtium,  Ricinus,  Thymelsea  and  Cnicus ; 
Roots  of  Briony,  Iris,  and  Tithymal  -y  Leaves 
of  Hedge-hyffop  and  Tobacco  2,  &c. 

5.  By  antimomal  3  Preparations,  as  the 
Saffron  or  Liver,  Glafs,  Flowers  and  Regulus, 
either  in  Subftanceor  Infufion,  with  Draughts 
of  fome  Liquor,  Syrup,  or  emetic  Wine  ; 
mercurius  Vitas,  emetic  Tartar,  and  the  like  ; 
which  by  the  different  degrees  of  their  Force, 
produce  various  Effects. 

6.  By  Mercurials  4  rendered  acrid  by  Acids, 
in  which  one  may  alfo  diftinguifh  a  very  great 
Variety,  according  as  the  Acid  is  more  or  lefs 
abundant  or  powerful,  and  more  intimately 
or  loofely  combined. 

c  >  There 


§.1205.       Of  Emet'tc$>  4°  3 

1  There  is  a  Tree  growing  in  Paraguay  whofe 
emollient  Leaves  are  very  much  in  Uie  with  the 
Americans,  in  the  form  of  Tea  or  a  Decoction  for 
Vomiting,  as  our  common  green  Tea  is  ufed  with- 
out Sugar  for  the  fame  Purpofe,  with  many  of  our 
Europeans.  The  native  Americans  were  followed 
in  this  Cuftoni  by  the  Spaniards  \  and  I  know 
fome  young  Men  who  formerly  invited  themfelves 
to  drink  the  Paragua  Tea,  with  which  they  all 
vomited  together  into  one  large  Veffel,  as  was 
formerly  the  Cuftom  in  vomiting  throughout  all 
Europe-,  but  this  kind  of  Vomit  was  laid  afide,  as 
too  much  weakening  the  Stomach  But  the  mildeft 
and  mod  certain  Method  of  exciting  a  Vomit,  is 
by  irritating  the  Fauces  and  Guia  with  a  Feather. 

1  An  Infufion  of  Tobacco  in  Water,  is  a  ftrong 
Vomit  which  never  fails,  but  caufes  too  great  a 
Diforder  and  Uneafmefs  in  the  Stomach. 

3  This  peculiar  Operation  has  Antimonials^ 
which  Hoffman  afcribes  to  an  arfenical  Sulphur  ; 
but  for  the  moft  part,  as  far  as  I  can  perceive,  it 
depends  in  a  great  meafure  upon  the  way  of  pre- 
paring and  ufing  them.  Glafs  of  Antimony  applied 
to  the  Eye  will  caufe  no  Uneafmefs,  uolefs  by  it9 
mechanical  Roughnefs  but  the  fame  being  taken 
only  to  the  Quantity  of  half  a  Grain  by  the  Mouth, 
excites  the  moft  fevere  Vomiting,  as  foon  as  ever 
it  reaches  the  Stomach. 

4  The  Operation  of  thefe  depends  intirely  upon 
the  acrid  Matter  combined  with  the  Mercury  •, 
fince  a  whole  Pound  of  crude'  Mercury  is  oiten 
fwallowed  in  a  twilling  of  the  Guts  without  any 
Alteration  or  vifible  Effect  ;  but  if  only  one  Grain 
of  Mercury  be  joined  with  or  diffolved  in  an  Acid, 
it  becomes  a  ftrong  Vomit,  adapted  for  the  Dif- 
charge  of  thick  Pituita  or  Phlegm. 

D  d  2  §.  1206. 


404  Of  Emetics.  §.1208. 

§.  1206..  The  Choice,  Dofe,  Form  and 
Time  of  adminiftering  the  forementioned 
Vomits,  are  indicated  from  the  Nature  of  the 
Difeafe,  and  Matter  to  be  evacuated . 

§.1207.  The  Operation  of  them  is  pro- 
moted by  the  plentiful1  drinking  of  fome 
emollient  watery  Liquor  warm,  after  each 
Endeavour  or  Fit  of  Vomiting,  and  repeated 
till  the  Operation  is  over. 

1  Namely,  by  drinking  a  litrle  more  watery 
Emuifion  than  is  difcharged  by  Vomiting,  and 
repeating  the  fame  Draught  after  every  Fit,  which 
is  a  very  good  Rule.  If  the  Body  is  phlegmatic, 
a  moderate  Quantity  of  Sea-falt  may  be  added. 
And  by  this  means  the  Vomiting  may  be  prevented 
from  doing  any  Injury  to  weak  People,  or  even 
to  Infants  themfelves  ;  for  I  have  given  Vomits, 
above  an  hundred  times  to  rickety  Children  about 
two  Months  old.  But  when  the  Stomach  being 
irritated  and  convulfed  by  the  Vomit,  is  at  the 
fame  time  dry  and  empty,  it  cauies  great  Pain 
and  Injury. 

§.  1208.  The  fame  Vomiting  (§.  1207.) 
is  allayed1  by  fome  mild,  oily  Draughts  with 
Opiates,  Aromatics,  grateful  and  corrobo- 
rating Acids,  taken  internally  or  applied  ex- 
ternally. 

1  Frefli  exprefTed  Oil  of  fweet  Almonds  here 
gives  prefent  Relief-,  but  Opium  with  Vinegar 
hardly  ever  fails.  But  if  thefe  mould  not  fucceed> 
large  Cupping-glafTes  mud  be  applied  \  and  if  thefe 

neither 

8 


§.  1209.      Of  Cathartics:  405 

neither  are  ufeful,  it  is  a  Sign  that  the  Convulfions 
have  difturbed  the  whole  Mixture  of  the  Blood, 
and  Courfe  of  the  Spirits,  whence  the  Diforder 
will  prove  fatal,  as  Hippocrates  prefages  of  the 
Convulfions  excited  by  Vomiting  with  Hellebore. 

Of  Cathartics, 

§,  1209,  TArious  are  the  Humours  which 
\  may  be  1  evacuated  into  the 
Inteftines,  and  by  that  way  difcharged  out  of 
the  Body  •  fuch  as  the  Saliva  and  Mucus  of 
the  Mouth,  Fauces,  Oefophagus  and  Stomach, 
the  cyftic  and  hepatic  Bile,  the  falival  Juice 
of  the  Pancreas,  with  the  watery  and  mucous 
Liquor  of  the  Inteftines,  the  atrabiliary  Matter 
of  the  Blood  and  Vifcera  feated  in  the  Hypo- 
chondria, the  ferous  Juices  of  the  Blood  re- 
dundant in  Dropfies,  and  the  purulent  Matter 
therein,  from  any  critical,  fymptomatical  or 
original  Abfcefs,  or  morbid  Suppuration. 

1  It  is  a  great  Error  to  fuppofe  that  purging  Medi- 
cines act  no  farther  than  the^Stomach  or  Inteftines  ; 
for  they  difturb  the  Courfe  of  the  Blood,  and  ex- 
cite a  Fever  even  before  they  act  upon  the  firft 
PafTages ;  and  then  they  determine  the  Effects  of 
the  Fever  towards  the  Bowels.  Hence  we  may 
underftand  why  fome  People  are  not  to  be  purged 
but  by  the  ftrongeft  Cathartics, 


P  d  3  §.  1210. 


406         Of  Cathartics.       §.  1210. 

§.  12 10.  This  Evacuatioa  from  the  Bowels 
is  indicated, 

1.  From  a  Flux  or  Loofenefs  which  is  not 
colliquative  '» 

2.  From  the  Nature  and  Seat z  of  the  of- 
fending Matter. 

3 .  From  the  Part  filled  or  obftruBed 1  being 
under  the  Diaphragm. 

4.  From  the  particular,  general  and  epi- 
demical Nature  of  the  Dijeafe  4. 

5.  By  the  heceflity  there  is  for  making  a 
Revuliion  from  other  Parts  above  or  adjacent. 

6.  From  the  Signs  of  ConcoSlion  5  in  the 
offending  Matter  to  be  thus  evacuated. 

7.  Laftly,  from  the  Condition  or  Habit 
of  the  Patient 6,  with  refpedt  to  this  Dis- 
charge. 

1  For  a  colliquative  Diarrhaea  ought  rather  to 
be  fuppreffed  by  Opiates,  than  promoted  by  Ca- 
thartics. 

a  As  in  the  Liver,  Spleen,  Stomach,  Gall- 
bladder, &c. 

3  For  the  Effects  of  Purges  lie  more  imme- 
diately in  diflblving  or  evacuating  the  obftructing 
Humours. 

*  Epidemical  Dyfenteries  are  fometimes  mod 
happily  cured  by  convenient  Purgatives  \  and  in 
every  Difeafe  one  ought  to  encourage  the  Dif- 
charge  of  the  morbific  Matter  this  way,  when  it  is 
attempted  by  Nature,  or  even  to  procure  it  by 
Art  when  the  Di (order  will  allow  it. 

5  For  Hippocrates  juftly  forbids  Purging  in  the 
Stage  of  Crudity  in  Difeaies. 

Some 


§ .  1 2 1 3 .      Of  Cathartics.         40  7 

6  Some  Patients  eafily  bear  Purging,  and  others 
very  difficultly,  not  without  Faintings,  or  other 
violent  Symptoms. 

§.  121 1.  Purging  is  forbid  by  the  Opto- 
fites  1  to  the  feveral  forementioned  Particulars 
(§•  1210.) 

1  More  efpecially  Purges  are  prohibited  when 
the  Stomach  and  Inteftines  are  too  fenfible  or  liable 
to  Irritation,  as  when  they  are  inflamed,  or  when 
a  Scirrhus  or  Cancer  is  lodged  near  them  \  for 
Purging,  in  fuch  Cafes,  will  be  repented  both  by 
yourfelf  and  the  Patient. 

§.1212.  The  Matter  this  way  evacuated, 
is  to  be  prepared  for  it  when  neceflary,  by  the 
fame  means  as  in  Vomiting  (§.  1204.) 

§.  j  2 13.  The  inteftinal  Evacuation  itfelf  is 
excited, 

1.  By  the  plentiful  drinking  of  Liquors 
which  are  diluent  1 1  and  gently  ftimulating, 
taken  upon  a  fafting  Stomach,  and  keeping 
the  Body  moderately  cool ;  fuch  as  the  Mi- 
neral Waters,  both  chalybeat,  fulphureousand 
faline,  the  Whey  of  Milk,  and  the  frem  ex- 
prelTed  Juices  of  ripe  Garden-fruits, 

2.  By  fuch  as  lubricate,  and  at  the  fame 
time  ftimulate,  but  with  an  eafy  Acrimony  ; 
fuch  as  the  foft  expreffed  and  recent  Oils,  fat 
Broths,  emollient  Decoctions  or  Extracts,  Su- 
gar, Honey,  Caffia,  Manna,  Colophony  or 
Turpentine,  pale  Rofes,  foluti  Syrup  of 
Rofes,  Juice  of  pale  Rofes,  Gum  Ammo- 

Dd  4  niacum. 


408       (  Of  Cathartics.  §.1213. 

niacum,  Galbanum,  Opoponax,  Sagapen,'(5V. 
taken  in  a  moderate  Dofe. 

3.  By  fuch  as  are  moderately  acrid  2  and 
compofed  of  more  grofs  or  confident  Parts, 
whence  their  Action  is  principally  confined  to 
the  firft  Paffages ;  fuch  as  Prunes,  frefhFigs, 
Currants,  Tamarinds,  Myrobalans,  Rhubarb, 
Tartar,  Aloes,  Mercurius  Dulcis  not  too  finely 
levigated,  Polypodi,  &c. 

4.  By  fuch  as  are  more  acrid  and  powerful, 
as  the  Leaves  of  Afarum,  femen  Carthami, 
Agaric,  Mechoacan,  Jalap,  Turpeth,  Hermo- 
dactyles,  Sertna,  Soldanella,  the  internal  Bark 
of  Eider,  and  dwarf  Elder,  Scammony,  Dia- 
grydium,  Peach  Bloffoms,  &c. 

5.  By  fuch  as  are  the  moft  acrid  1  and  al- 
moft  cauftic,  as  the  Helleborus  niger,  Vera- 
trum,  Iris,  Qum  Gutta,  Efula,  Gratiola,  Ela- 
terium,  Lapis  Lazuli,  Euphorbium,  Meze- 
raeon,  Cryftalli  argenti,  Mercurius  prscipi- 
tatus,  albus,  ruber,  flavus,  &c. 

6.  The  various  and  aim  oft  enumerable 
Gompofitions,  made  up  from  thefe  in  the 
form  of  Pills,  Elc&uary,  Powder,  Infufion 
in  Wine,  &c. 

1  Thefe  are  the  moil  gentle  of  all,  infomuch 
that  they  are  r/olerab'e  to  a  Wound  or  the  naked 
Eye  fuch  as  the  Bath-waters  of  An  laChapelle, 
boiled  Apples,  Mallows,  &c.  or  even  the  Whey 
of  Milk  only  drank  plentifully,  fo  as  to  keep  the 
Bowels  loofe,  frequently  cures  the  moft  chronical 
and  clefperate  Difeafes.  Hippocrates  purged  in 
chronical  Difeafes  with  AiTes  Milk.    If  thefe  do 

not 


§.  1 214;      Of  Cathartics.  409 

not  operate  fufficiently  alone,  they  may  be  afiifted 
or  promoted  in  their  Action,  by  a  medial  or  neu- 
tral Salt. 

»  Such  as  are  manifeftly  acrid  to  the  Smell  and 
Tafte,  to  the  naked  Nerves  In  a  Wound,  and  to 
the  Eyes  which  they  irritate. 

3  Such  as-  corrode  and  ulcerate  the  Skin  and 
Nerves  of  the  Stomach. 

§.1214.  The  Choice,  Dofe,  Form,  Pre- 
paration and  Time  of  giving  thefe,  are  agree- 
able with  what  was  faid  before  of  Vomits 
(§.  1206.);  and  more  efpecially  muft  be  di- 
rected according  to  the  Nature  of  the  Matter 
to  be  evacuated.  Hence  we  have  the  various 
Denominations  and  Diftin&ions  of  thefe  Re- 
medies into  Laxatives  or  Eccoprotics  \  Clean- 
fers  2  of  the  Bowels,  Cholagogs  \  Phlegmagogs, 
Hydragogs,  Melanagogs,  Panchymagogs,  &c. 
the  Origin  of  which  Names  is  eafily  derived 
from  the  Humours  or  Appearance  of  the 
Matter  evacuated. 

1  Which  difcharge  the  indurated  Fasces,  and 
cleanfe  the  Bowels  without  wafting  the  Body,  nei- 
ther weakening  the  Powers  nor  difcharging  the 
Humours.  _ 

z  Such  as  only  evacuate  what  is  moveable  in 
the  Bowels,  without  introducing  any  confiderable 
Change  in  the  Humours  of  healthy  Bodies. 

3  it  there  are  no  elective,  yet  there  are  diftinct 
Purgatives,  which  more  follicit  the  Difcharge  of 
one  Humour  than  another.  For  the  Bile  being 
the  moft  moveable,  may  be  eafily  diflblved  by 
the  mildeft  Purges ;  as  Manna,  Tamarinds,  Juice 
of  Rofes,  &c.   But  the  Hydragogs  are  fuch  as 

diflblve 


410         Of  Cathartics.      §.  121 6. 

difiblve  the  Biood,  and  evacuate  it  under  the  form 
of  a  watery  Serum  Melanagogs  change  the  Body 
throughout,  and  are  therefore  the  fame  With  Pan- 
chymagogs,  which  fcour  off  the  Mucus  of  the  In- 
teftines,  and  caufe  a  Tenefmus. 

§.  1215.  The  Adlion  of  them  is  promoted 
by  falted  and  fat  Broths  \  new  Whey,  but- 
tered Gruels,  and  the  like. 

1  By  this  means  their  ill  Effects  or  Symptoms 
may  be  avoided,  by  preventing  the  Body  from 
being  dry,  by  giving  every  Hour,  during  the 
Operation  of  the  Medicine,  two  or  three  Ounces 
of  thin  Chocolate,  or  Flefh  Broths,  which  will  keep 
up  the  Patient's  Spirits  and  prevent  Fainting  or 
other  Accidents. 

§.  1 216.  Violent  Purging  is  fuppreffed  and 
moderated,  by  the  Ufe  of  foft  oily  Medicines 
and  Emulfions,  by  Acids  \  Aftringents,  Opi- 
ates and  fpirituous  Liquors,  or  laftly,  by  mak- 
ing a  Revulfion  1  to  other  Parts. 

1  Even  Hellebore  itfelf  given  with  Spirit  of 
Sea- fait  will  not  Purge  ;  and  Scammony  is  fo 
tamed  with  the  Fumes  of  Sulphur,  as  alfo  to  lofe 
its  purgative  Force  •,  fo  powerfully  do  Acids  refill 
the  Operation  of  Purging. 

*  Which  ought  to  be  attempted  by  the  Appli- 
cation of  Cupping  glaffes  to  the  Region  or  the 
Sromach,  \Jc.  and  more  efpecially  in  this  Cafe, 
do  I  truft  to  a  Clyfter  well  charged  with  Theriaca, 
with  the  fame  Eleciuary  fpread  in  the  form  of  a 
Plafter,  and  applied  to  the  whole  Abdomen. 

§.1217. 


§.  i  2 1 8.      Of  Cathartics.  411 


§.  1 217.  Evacuations  are  likewife  made 
from  the  Bowels  by  Clyfters,  which  are  in- 
dicated, 

1.  By  the  Nature  and  Vicinity  of  the  Parts 
affected. 

2.  From  the  Nature  and  Condition  of  the 
Matter  to  be  evacuated. 

3.  From  the  decayed  Strength  of  the  Pa- 
tient, and  the  particular  Habit  of  the  Body, 
while  at  the  fame  time  there  is  an  urgent 
Neceffity  for  Evacuation. 

4.  From  the  Drinefs,  Heat,  and  too  great 
Motion  of  the  Humours  m  acute  Difcafes  \ 

5.  To  procure  a  neceffary  Revidfcn  %  eafe 
or  relax  the  Fibres,  and  mitigate  the  acrid 
Humours. 

1  Hippocrates  orders  to  relax  the  Bowels  with  a 
diluent  Clyfter  every  four  Hours  in  all  ardent  or 
acute  Difeafes.  I  have,  out  of  Curiofity,  made 
the  Experiment  of  injecting  diluent  and  oily  Li- 
quors by  the  Anus,  and  have  found  that  before 
they  are  difcharged,  the  greater!:  part  of  them  are 
abforbed,  and  conveyed  into  the  Blood  by  the 
mefenteric  and  lacteal  Veins,  and  therefore  Clyfters 
are  ufeful  for  many  Purpofes,  befides  that  of 
Purging. 

2  Only  by  the  repeated  Ufe  of  Clyfters  we  may 
be  able  to  excite  an  artificial,  mild,  and  falutary 
Diarrhsea. 

§.  1 2 18.  Clyfters  are  therefore  of  various 
kinds    fuch  as, 

i.  Diluents 


412         Of  Cathartics.       § .  1 2 1 8 . 

1.  Diluents  of  Water,  Whey,  or  fweet 
.Ale. 

2.  Emollient,  relaxing,  and  eaiing  \  fuch  as 
of  fat  Broths,  Oil,  mealy  Decoctions  with 
Milk,  Sugar,  Soap,  Syrups,  &c. 

3.  Stimulating  of  the  milder  kind,  are  Salt 
Water,  Water  with  Nitre,  Urine,  and  De- 
coctions of  the  lenient  Purgatives  (§.  1213. 
N°  2,  3.) 

4.  More  (harp  or  active  than  the  former, 
made  of  Decoctions  of  the  ftrongeft  Purges  1 
(§.,213.  N'  4)  5.) 

5.  Or  tartly,  fuch  as  hardly  ever  fail  in 
the  greater!:  Extremities,  as  the  Smoke  of 
Tobacco  z  injected. 

From  what  has  been  faid  may  be  under- 
flood  the  Nature,  Compofition,  and  Ufes 
of  SuppvJitories\  acrid,  ftimulating  and  mov- 
ing the  Bowels,  compofed  of  Honey  boiled  to 
a  hard  Confiftence,  Sugar,  Soap,  and  other 
acrid  Ingredients  combined  together. 

1  All  Medicines  injected  by  the  Anus  produce 
the  fame  Effects  with  thofe  taken  by  the  Mouth ; 
but  then  their  Dofe  muft  be  triplicate  in  Clyfters 
to  what  is  giVen  by  the  Mouth.  This  is  true  of 
the  Peruvian  Bark ;  four  Ounces  of  whofe  Decocti- 
on being  given  by  the  Anus  before  the  Fit  of  an/ 
Intermittent  certainly  removes  it,  as  I  have  fre- 
quently experienced  myfelf  in  Children,  and  has 
been  often  tried  at  the  French  Court.  Even  Sy- 
denham was  ufed  to  cure  a  Gonorrhoea  by  Clyfters, 
There  is  therefore  no  room  to  doubt,  that  Clyfters 
may  anfwer  the  Ufes  of  Purgatives,  whenever 
Children,  or  People  of  a  delicate  Habit,  are  averfe 


§.1220.      Of  Diuretics.  413 

to  the  Force  or  ill  Tafte  of  difagreeable  Purga- 
tives. 

z  When  Nature  is  almoft  exhaufted,  and  in  a 
Lethargy  in  languid  Difeafes,  fhc  may  be  excited 
by  the  Smoke*  of  Tobacco  injected  by  the  Anus 
alter  the  manner  of  a  Clyfter  and  by  this  means 
even  the  moft  obftinate  Bowels  will  be  excited  to 
their  Office. 

3  Of  the  aloetic  kind,  which  bring  down  the 
Piles  in  hypochondriacal  People,  after  having  firft 
relaxed  the  Bowels. 

§.  1 219.  In  thefe  again  the  fame  Cautions 
are  to  be  obferved  as  mentioned  before  in  vo- 
miting and  purging  (§.  1206, 1214.) 

Of  Diuretics. 

§.  1220.    A   N  Evacuation  by  the  uninary 
f~\^  Paflages  is  indicated, 

1.  By  the  Signs  of  Conco&ion  in  the  Hu- 
mours preceding. 

2.  By  a  critical  Flux  of  the  morbific  Mat- 
ter through  the  Kidneys. 

3  .  From  the  Nature  of  the  peccant  Matter 
being  faline  \  faponaceous,  fcorbutic,  puru- 
lent, or  a  fubtilized  Earth. 

4.  From  a  Confideration  of  the  afTe&ed 
Part. 

5.  From  the  epidemical '*  Conftitution  of  the 
Difeafe,  and  Seafon  of  the  Year  or  Air. 

6.  From  the  Habit  and  Difpofition  of  the 
Patient,  favouring  or  being  accuflomed  to 
this  Difcharge, 

When 


414  Of  Diuretics.  §.'1222. 

1  When  the  morbific  Matter  confifts  in  a  wate- 
ry Latex  or  Brine,  the  peccant  Salts  are  then  ufu- 
ally  beft  difcharged  by  the  Kidneys ;  for  as  the 
Interlines  are  the  Emunclory  or  Sink  to  the  chyli- 
ficative  Vifcera,  fo  the  Kidneys  are  likewife  the 
Emunclory  or  Sink  of  the  fanguificative  Organs. 

*  For  frequently  many  are  cured  of  epidemical 
Difeafes  by  the  Difcharge  of  fcalding  or  acrid 
Urine  on  the  critical  Day ;  and  in  reality  this  is 
the  moft  common  Crifis  in  acute  and  epidemic 
Difeafes. 

§.  1221.  The  Ufe  of  Diuretics  is  forbid  by 
the  contrary  Indications  to  thofe  foregoing. 
§.  1222.  The  urinary  Evacuation  is  excited, 

1.  By  the  plentiful  Ufe  of  Water,  and  wa- 
tery Liquors  \ 

2.  By  alcaline  Salts  both  fixed  and  volatile, 
fimple  and  compound. 

3.  By  fixed,  neutral  or  compound  Salts ; 
as  Sea-falt,  Sal  Gem,  Nitre,  Borax,  Alum, 
Tartar tartarifed,  Oyfter-fhell  Powder  diffolved 
with  an  Acid  in  the  Stomach,  or  out  of  it ;  to 
which  add  the  Juices  of  Shell-fifti  and  Oyfters, 
as  alfo  the  Sal  Ammoniacum. 

4.  The  afcefcent  Humours  taken  from  Ani- 
mals, whether  four  Milk  \  Butter-milk,  or 
four  Whey. 

5.  By  the  milder  Acids'  of  Vegetables,  as 
Juice  of  Oranges,  Citrons,  Lemons,  Currants, 
Elder-berries  5  and  thin  Wines,  as  Rhenifi  and 
Mofel/e. 

6.  By  acid  Spirits,  as  of  Vinegar,  Nitre, 
common  Salt,  Sulphur,  Alum,  and  Vitriol 

fimple 


§.  1223.      Of  Diuretics.  41 15 

fimple  and  compound,  or  dulcified  \  to  which 
add  the  Salt  of  Amber. 

7.  Thofe  of  the  vegetable  kind,  as  Smallage, 
Afarabacca  boiled,  Afparagus,  bitter  Almonds, 
Cherville,  Daucus,  Eryngo,  Maudlin,  Grom- 
well,  Peach-kernels,  Onions,  Parfley,  Pim- 
pernel, Butchers-broom,  Saxifrage,  &c. 

8.  The  feveral  and  various  Preparations  and 
Forms  of  Medicines,  which  may  be  com- 
pounded out  of  all  the  preceding. 

1  Efpecially  when  thefe  Liquors  are  determined 
to  the  urinary  Paifages  by  keeping  the  Body  cool, 
and  free  from  Sweat,  or  too  copious  Perfpiration; 
for  there  is  no  Diuretic  capable  of  operating  by 
the  urinary  PafTages,  unlefs  it  be  that  way  deter- 
mined ;  and  Water  itfelf  is  perhaps  the  only  true 
Diuretic.  But  if  Water  is  charged  with  Sal  Gem* 
or  a  Dram  of  vitriolated  Tartar,  it  will  excite 
Urine  to  fuch  a  degree,  as  tocaufemore  Water  to 
be  that  way  evacuated  than  was  drank  nor  do  I 
think  it  eafy  to  find  a  better  or  more  powerful 
Diuretic. 

1  Nothing  is  better  for  this  Purpofe  than  the 
very  thin  Whey  of  Milk,  or  that  which  is  fepara- 
ted  by  filtrating  Butter-milk  through  Flannel. 

3  To  thefe  add  the  Juice  of  Lemons  lately  ex- 
prefTed  and  mixed  with  Rhenifh  Wine,  which  in 
many  Cafes  form  one  of  the  befl  Diuretics. 

§.1223.  The  Operation  of  Diuretics  is  pro- 
moted by  taking  themmpon  an  empty  Stomach 
after  a  previous  Concodion,  after  moderate 
Exercife  1  of  Body,  and  by  the  Ufe  of  a  mo- 
derately cool  Air  5  while  at  the  fame  time  the 

Loins, 


41 6         Of  Diuretics.       §.  1224. 

Loins,  Regions  of  the  Kidneys,  Pubes  and 
Peritonaeum  are  kept  warm  z. 

1  Chiefly  by  walking  moderately  in  a  cool  Air, 
while  in  the  mean  time  warm  things  are  applied  to 
the  Loins  and  Region  of  the  Kidneys;  for  the 
Kidneys  ought  to  be  kept  warm  to  relax  their  Vef- 
fels,  while  the  Humours  are  derived  to  them  by 
keeping  the  other  Parts  cool. 

aTo  this  purpofe  Clyfters  which  are  not  purg- 
ing but  emollient,  and  apt  to  be  retained  a  long 
time,  are  extremely  conducive. 

§.  1224.  The  urinary  Difcharge  Is  fuppref- 
fed  or  moderated, 

1.  By  the  Ufe  of  the  more  vifcid  and.  gela- 
tinous Emulfions. 

2.  By  the  adjunct  Ufe  of  aftringent  and 
corroborating  Medicines  before-mentioned, 
(§.1107,  1159.) 

3.  By  the  Ufe  of  Opiates. 

4.  By  determining  the  Humours  to  other 
Parts  \  and  more  efpecially  by  exciting  and 
continuing. a  Sweat  for  fome  time  by  Exercife 
or  fudorific  Medicines. 

«  Thofe  who  are  troubled  with  a  Diabetes  are 
not  eafily  cured  without  fweating  in  a  Stove  or 
hot  Houfe. 

0 


Of  Emmenagogs  and  Ariftolochics, 

.§.  1225*  '  I  HE  Evacuation  of  Blood  from 
j[  the  Womb,  either  menftruous 
or  of  lying-in  Women,  is  indicated  to  be 
neceffary, 

j.  From  the  Age  of  the  Patient. 

2.  From  a  Plethora  and  its  Symptoms. 

3*  From  any  Diforder  caufed  by  a  Pletho- 
ra and  the  Symptoms  thereof,  more  efpecial-* 
ly  in  lying-in  Women* 

§.  1226.  This  Evacuation  is  excited  by  the 
Ufe  of  thofe  Medicines,  which 

1.  Determine  1  the  Blood  plentifully  to  the 
Uterus,  as  Fomentations,  Baths,  and  Wafhes 
for  the  Feet  and  Legs  3  Fridtions  frequently 
repeated  upon  the  Feet,  Legs,  Thighs  and  hy- 
pogaftric  Regions  5  Cupping-glalTes  applied  to 
the  Thighs  and  upper  Parts  of  the  Legs,  and 
frequendy  repeated  j  by  bleeding  in  the  Veins 
of  the  Feet ;  and  by  the  Application  of  Pla- 
fters  of  the  fcetid  Gums  to  the  Navel,  Thighs 
and  Legs. 

2.  By  the  Ufe  of  aperient  Medicines 2,  which 
open  and  relax  the  uterine  Veffcls,  as  Vap  urs, 
Baths,  Fomentations  and  Injections ;  and  inter- 
nal Medicines  of  the  fame  kind,  as  Birthwort, 
Mug  wort,  Calamint,  Motherwort,  Ground*- 
E  e  pine, 


4 1 8  Of  Emmenagogs.  §.  1 2  2  6. 
pine,  Dittany,  Lovage,  Marjoram,  white  Hoar- 
hound,  Feverfew,  Mint,  Pennyroyal,  Rofe- 
mary,  Rue,  Savin,  Savory,  Tanfy,  the  foetid 
Gums  ;  with  Aloes,  Myrrh,  Saffron,  Borax  \ 
Steel,  Amber,  volatile  alcaline  Salts,  and  dif- 
tilled  aromatic  Oils. 

3.  By  theUfc  of  fuch  chirurgical,  dietetic* 
and  pharmaceutic  Remedies,  as  are  contrary  to 
the  Obftacles  which  oppofe  the  particular  Eva- 
cuation 5  and  which  can  only  be  determined 
from  the  particular  Signs  peculiar  to  each 
Cafe. 

•  Fomentations  and  bathing  of  the  Feet  fre- 
quently repeated  'till  the  lower  Veins  fwell  to 
which  add  Platters  of  Galbanum  applied  to  the 
Hams  and  Soles  of  the  Feet,  which  are  of  excellent 
Ufe. 

*  The  Ufe  of  which  is  however  not  without 
Danger,  efpecially  in  Women  of  a  dry  Habit. 

3  Which  among  the  uterine  Medicines  is  of  ex- 
cellent Virtue. 

4  When  the  Menfes  are  fupprefled  by  the  Ufe  of 
Acids,  they  are  then  beft  recalled  by  alcaline  Ab- 
forbents. — But  in  general  we  have  no  uterine  Re- 
medies but  Sudorifics  determined  to  the  Uterus  ; 
and  the  Menfes  are  commonly  fupprefled  for  want 
of  a  Ouc  Laxity  in  the  uterine  VeflTeis.  When  thefe 
Remedies  do  not  operate  agreeably  upon  the  Body 
prepared,  they  ought  to  be  aflifted  in  that  Cafe  by 
the  Steams  of  hot  Water  conveyed  to  the  Puden- 
da; and  if  thefe  Vapours  are  impregnated  with  Sal 
Ammoniacum,  they  will  by  that  means  be  ren- 
der'd  extremely  penetrating,  infomuch  that  the 
Woman  will  perceive  the  Smell  in  her  NoftriJs, 
according  to  the  ancient  O  bier vation  of  Hippocrates  ; 


§.  1 2  2  7.     Of  Enrmtnagogt.  419 

and  by  this  means,  if  poflible,  the  Menfes  will  be 
brought  down.  A  Semicupium  ufed  Morning  and 
Evening,  with  Frictions  continued  for  half  an  hour 
upon  the  internal  Parts  of  the  Legs  and  Feet  up  to 
the  Knees  with  warm  coarfe  Flannels,  arc  highly 
ufeful ;  and  then  at  the  full  Moon,  when  the  Men- 
fes are  expected,  it  may  be  proper  to  open  the  Sa*j 
phena  Vein  in  the  Foot. 

§.  1227.  The  menftrual  Difcharge  is  fup- 
prefled  or  moderated  when  too  profufe, 

1.  By  a  Revulfion  1  of  the  Blood  from  the 
Womb  towards  the  other  Parts. 

2.  By  aftringing  the  Veffels  with  the  Me- 
dicines  before  propofed  (§.  1 107,  1159.) 

3.  By  the  Ufe  of  Opiates  \ 

*  Too  great  a  Flux  from  the  Uterus,  is  mo- 
derated by  the  Application  of  Cupping-glafTes  to 
the  Breads,  in  the  fame  manner  as  Inflammation* 
and  Swelling  of  the.  Breads  are  allayed  by  Cupping 
in  the  Legs  and  Thighs.  In  this  Cafe,  Phle- 
botomy, as  a  Revulfive,  is  a  Remedy  not  to  be 
trufted,  fince  it  weakens  the  whole  Habit  without 
giving  the  fmaller  Veffels  any  con fiderable  Tenden- 
cy to  contract  but  as  long  as  they  continue  open, 
fo  long  will  the  Blood  continue  to  flow.  Nor  are 
Aftringents  always  effectual;  but  Women  in  Years* 
who  Iofe  too  much  Blood  by  this  Evacuation,  ve- 
ry rarely  recover  ;  yet  fuch  may  be  aftifted  by  the 
Application  of  Ligatures  to  the  Limbs,  &c.  as  di- 
rected more  at  large  for  profufe  Haemorrhages  at 
§.  219.  of  my  practical  Aphorifms. 

*  In  too  profufe  a  Difcharge  of  the  Lochia  from 
lying-in  Women,  Opiates  only  excel,  and  with- 
out them  little  or  no  Relief  can  be  given  to  the 
Patient. 

Ee  2  Of 


4  2  e  Of  Phlebotomy.  §.1228: 


Of  Phlebotomy. 

§.  1228.  T^Lood-letting  within  Bounds  \  fo 
JLJ  as  not  to  diminilh  the  Strength, 
has  the  following  Effedts  : 

1.  It  leffens  the  Quantity  of  Humours  both 
in  the  Arteries  and  Veins.  , 

2.  And  confequently  it  therefore  leffens  th« 
Refinance  to  be  removed. 

3.  And  by  this  means  it  will  leffen  the  Ful- 
nefs  of  the  Veffels,  and  the  mutual  Compref- 
fure  of  the  Humours  and  Veffels  with  refpedt 
to  each  other. 

4.  Thus  it  reftores  the  over-diftended  Vef- 
fels to  their  former  Contractions  and  Elafti- 
city. 

5.  It  rarefies*  or  thins  the  Humours. 

6.  It  occafions  their  Parts  to  cohere  lefs  ? 
together. 

7.  It  diffolves  thofe  Parts  which  are  too 
grofs  or  large. 

8.  It  removes  ObftruStions*. 

9.  It  promotes  the  Circulation,  Secretion 
and  Excretion  of  the  Humours. 

10.  It  makes  a  Revulfion  from  other  Parts. 

11.  and  laftly,  It  cools  5  the  whole  Habit. 

■  That  is  to  fay,  continued  fo  long  as  not  to  al- 
ter the  Powers  of  the  Body  but  if  it  exceeds 
thofe  Bounds,  bleeding  is  proportionably  hurtful. 

It 


§.  1229.     Of  Phlebotomy.  421 

-  It  relaxes  the  VefTel%  and  diminifhes  the  Pref- 
fure  of  them  againft  the  Humours,  and  of  the 
Parts  of  the  Humours  againft  each  other  but 
the  firft  or  largeft  Order  of  Veflels  being  emptied, 
all  the  reft  will  be  relaxed  in  proportion. 

1  That  is  to  fay,  if  they  are  too  much  conden- 
fed  or  compacted  together  by  a  too  ftrong  Preflure 
of  the  Arteries,  which  is  always  as  their  Diften- 
fion. 

4  Namely,  when  Obftruclions  follow  from  too 
great  an  Expanfion  of  the  larger  Veflcls  compref- 
fing  the  lels, 

5  And  if  it  be  excefiive  it  cools  even  to  the  laft 
degree,  namely,  by  caufing  the  Perfort  to  faint 
away  firft  and  afterwards  farther  continued,  it 
brings  on  a  perpetual  Coldnefs,  or  Death  itfelf. 

§.1229.  Hence  bleeding  removes  a  great 
many,  and  thofe  very  different  Difeafes,  while 
at  the  fame  time  it  works  very  furprijing  \ 
Changes. 

1  Hence  when  the  Phyfician  for  the  firft  time 
orders  the  Patit  nt  to  be  bled,  he  ought  not  to 
leave  the  Evacuation  entirely  to  the  Surgeon,  bat 
fhould  be  jfcrefent  run  if,  and  carefully  attend  to 
all  the  Appearances  obfervable  in  the  Patient.  For 
there  are  fome  People  who  faint  by  the  Lofk  even 
of  a  fingle  Ounce  of  Blood-,  and  in  others  bleed- 
ing often  increales  the  Diforder  itfelf.  In  thofe 
who  faint,  you  may  plainly  perceive  the  Blood  re- 
turn even  back  again  to  the  Heart  by  the  Arteries, 
the  Eyes  collapfe,  the  Face  looks  pale,  &c.  while 
others  bear  a  confiderable  Lofs  of  Blood  without 
any  Alteration. 


§•1230. 


422         Of  Phlebotomy.  §.1230. 

§.  1230.  This  Difcharge  is  indicated  to  be 
ncceflary, 

3 .  From  too  great  "Redundancy  1  of  Blood. 

2.  From  the  Humours  making  too  great  a 
Refiftance  to  the  Force  of  the  Heart. 

3.  From  an  obftrudted  Circulation  by  too 
great  a  Diftenfion  of  the  Arteries,  either  from 
the  Quantity  or  Rarefadtion  of  the  Humours. 

4.  From  an  incipient  Obftrudtion  of  the 
Blood's  free  Courfe,  from  an  Over-diftenfion  K 
of  the  Veffels,  by  which  their  Elafticity  or 
eontradtile  Force  is  deftroyed. 

5.  From  the  Blood  being  too  thick  or 
denfe. 

6.  From  its  Part$  being  too  cohefive, 

7.  Or  from  the  Humours  being  too  much 
infpiflated  with  an  inflammatory  5  Sizinefs. 

8.  By  thofe  things  which  are  the  Signs  of 
an  inflammatory  Obftrudtion  appearing  confi- 
derable,  and  throughout  the  whole  Body  j  and 
among  ihefe  the  principal  are  Pain,  Tumor, 
Rednefs,  Hestf  and  Anxiety,  while  at  the  fame; 
time  the  Evacuation  of  Sweat,  Spittle  and 
Urine  arq  much  fuppreffed. 

9.  From  too  intenfe  a  Motion  of  the  Hu- 
mours through  the  Veffels  j  as  alfofrom  a  too 
flow  Motion  of  them,  proceeding  from  the 
Caufes  before-mentioned  (N°  1,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7, 
§  of  this  SedHon,) 

iou  From  too  great  2,  Heat  throughout  all 


jj.  From 


§.  1230.     Of  Phlebototny.  423 

1 1 .  From  too  great  an  Impulfe  of  the  Blood 
moved  violently  towards  fome  particular  Part, 
as  in  Hemorrhages  4  and  Congeftions. 

12.  From  the  known  epidemical  Nature  of 
the  Difeafe,  Seafon  of  the  Year,  &c. 

13.  From  the  Age\  Sex,  Habit,  and  way 
of  Life  in  the  Patient. 

1 4.  From  a  Cacocbymta  6,  or  ill  State  of 
the  Juices. 

1 5.  From  the  Neceflity  of  giving  Medicines 
a  Tendency  into  the  Veflels,  and  to  procure 
an  intimate  Mixture  of  them  with  the  Hu- 
mours ;  as  alfo  when  it  is  neceffary  to  excite 
the  Adtion  of  thofe  Medicines,  for  the  Aciom- 
plilhment  of  great  Cures, 

»  When  there  is  fo  much  Blood  and  Humours 
that  the  Heart  cannot  propel  them,  as  may  be 
known  from  the  Palpitation  of  the  Heart,  and 
great  Turgefcence  of  the  Veins. 

*  As  when  I  perceive  the  Artery  extended  under 
my  Finger  without  contracting  or  leflVning  again. 

J  In  this  Cafe  bleeding  ought  never  to  be  omit- 
ted, left  the  Inflammation  turns  to  a  Suppuration 
or  a  Gangrene.  But  if  in  fuch  a  Cafe  fome  other 
great  Evacuation  mould  appear,  we  ought  to  wait 
and  fee  whether  Nature  wiil  relieve  herfelf. 

4  As  when,  for  Example,  if  the  pulmonary 
Artery  is  ruptured,  I  apply  Ligatures  to  the  Arms 
and  Legs,  and  bleed  the  Patient,  that  fo  fmall  a 
Quantity  of  Blood  may  be  fent  to  the  Heart,  at 
will  not  over-diftend  or  break  open  the  wound- 
ed pulmonary  Artery,  which  by  that  means  may 
have  an  Opportunity  of  clofing  up  and  uniting  its 
Membranes. 

Ee  4  Adult 


424  Of  Phlebotomy.      §.  1231. 

5  Adult  People  bear  bleeding  better  than  thofc 
who  are  young,  and  Women  bear  it  even  better 
than  Men.  I  hey  who  feed  plentifully  bear  it  bet- 
ter than  thofe  who  live  foberly  ;  and  for  the  moft 
parr  it  is  hurtful  to  melancholy  and  phlegmatic 
People. 

6ii  this  place  bleeding  mult  never  be  ufed 

profufely. 

§,  123  r.  This  Evacuation  is  belt  made, 

1 .  With  a  large  Wound,  or  Orifice  by 

Jncijwn  *, 

2.  In  a  large,  freezy  or  fafe  Vein  eafily 
perceived,  and  remote  from  Arteries,  Nerves 
and  Tendons. 

3.  By  accelerating  the  Motion  of  the  Blood  ? 
with  a  ftrong  Rtjpi  ration  4  while  the  Vein 
is  bleeaing. 

4.  By  moving  the  Mufcles  5  near  the  Vein 
opened. 

5.  By  bleeding  the  Patient  in  zfupine  6  ox 
horizontal  Poflure. 

1  The  Lancet  ought  not  to  be  dire&ly  thruft 
into  the  Vein  as  in  making  a  Puncture,  or  as 
is  cuftoinary  by  linking  a  Fleam  into  ic  by  a  Filip 
with  the  Finger,  as  is  practifVd  in  fume  Parts  of 
Germany  y  for  by  this  means  both  Sides  of  the 
Veins  are  eafily  cut  through,  and  1  have  from  this 
manner  of  Bleeding  feen  a  large  Ecchy  moils  or 
Extravakuion  of  Blood  into  the  Panniculus  adi- 
pofus.  But  this  may  be  avoided  by  raifing  the 
Point  of  the  Lancer  fo  as  to  make  it  cut. 

2  The  bafilic  Vtin  fometimes  cannot  be  opened 
without  danger  by  reafon  of  the  adjacent  Artery 
and  Nerve  j  but  in  the  Hand  it  is  eafier  to  bleed, 

and 


§.  1232.    Of  Phlebotomy.  425 

and  ftill  more  eafy  to  bleed  in  the  Ancle  or  Inftep, 
where  the  Veins  are  at  Liberty,  and  not  accompa- 
nied by  any  large  Artery  to  be  eafily  injured. 

3  Lefs  Biood  gives  more  Relief  when  it  is  dis- 
charged in  a  full  Stream,  than  twice  as  much. 
Blood  discharged  by  trickling  down  the  Arm  •,  for 
the  former  makes  a  greater  Revulfion,and  fudden- 
ly  changes  the  Artery  into  the  Nature  of  a  Vein. 

4  When  the  Patient  avoids  breathing  as  mucfi  as 
poffible  to  Ihun  Pain,  as  in  a  Pleurify,  in  that  Cafe 
the  Fumes  ol  Vinegar  mould  be  brought  near  their 
Koftrils,  which  wiii  oblige  them  tocough  andacce- 
lerate  the  Blood's  Motion,  fo  as  to  make  it*  flow 
more  plentifully  through  the  Orifice  ot  the  Vein. 
Thus  three  Ounces  of  Blood  drfcharged  inftandy 
in  a  full  Stream,  w  ill  afford  more  Relief  than  ten 
Ounces  diftiliing  from  the  Vein  in  Drops. 

5  It  is  cuTomary  with  Surgeons  to  give  the  Pa^ 
tient  a  Stick,  or  fomething  « lie  to  turn  round  in 
the  Hand,  that  by  the  Motion  of  the  Mufcles 

f>reffing  the  fmall  Veins,  the  Blood  may  be  acce- 
erated  through  the  larger. 

6  Bchim  demonftrates,  that  a  Perfon  lying  down 
may  lofe  twice  as  much  Blood  without  fainting,  as 
he  can  in  an  erect  Pofture,  which  requires  the 
Operation  of  the  Mufcles  to  fuftain  the  Body. 

§.  1232.  Tlie  Preparation  for  the  more 
-  happy  Performance  of  this  Ev  cuation  is  made, 

1.  By  Fri3ion  \  to  render  the  Vein  more 
confpicuous. 

2.  By  a  Fomentation  for  the  fame  purpofe. 

1  When  it  is  necefiary  to  open  the  faphena  Vein 
10  the  Foot,  it  is  previoufly  required  to  bathe  and 
rub  the  Feet  in  warm  Water. 

§-I233- 


426        Of  Phlehotomy.  §.1233. 

§.  1233.  Bleeding  is  forbid, 

1.  In  moft  chronical  Difeafes,  in  which 
many  of  the  Veflels  are  obftru&ed,  and  very 
little  fluid  Blood  remains  in  the  Veflels. 

2.  From  the  old  Age  1  or  Weaknefs  of  the 
Patient. 

3.  From  the  Patient's  Temperature  or 
Habit. 

4.  From  the  known  Nature  of  the  Difeafe, 
whether  epidemical  or  endemical. 

5.  From  a  Crifis  already  making  in  another 
Part. 

6.  From  the  Scarcity  *  or  fmall  Proportion 
of  red  Cruor  in  the  Blood,  with  a  Weaknefs 1 
of  all  the  Powers  from  thence  proceeding. 

7.  From  a  Woman's  having  lately  lain  in  4* 

■  It  is  a  very  bad  Cuftom,  encouraged  by  fome 
Phyficians,  to  bleed  old  People  after  the  Age  of 
Seventy,  for  the  Cure  of  a  Plethora  ;  for  at  that 
Age  there  is  certainly  but  a  fmall  Proportion  of 
red  Blood,  and  inftead  of  removing  the  Plethora, 
it  is  thus  rather  increafed  by  weakening  the  Strength 
of  the  Veflels  and  Motion  of  the  Humours,  Spe- 
cially if  the  Patient  lives  freely  upon  a  good  Diet. 
Lifter  demonftrates,  that  the  Calves  which  are 
often  bled  become  extremely  fat  and  white,  'till  at 
length  little  more  than  the  crude  Chyle  itfelf  con- 
tinues to  circulate  through  the  Veflels.  It  there- 
fore follows,  that  bleeding  ought  not  to  be  ufed  in 
old  People,  but  in  cafe  of  urgen|  Neceffity. 

*  Bot  alius  even  orders  a  Vein  to  be  opened  in  a 
Dropfy  but  I  know  not  how  he  can  vindicate 
this  Evacuation  fo  repugnant  to  Rcafoo  in  that 
Diftemper. 

Very 


§•  1 2  3  5  •    Of  Phlebotomy.  427 

*  Very  often  pale  Girls  are  defirous  to  have  a 
Vein  opened  without  any  good  Reafon  but  in 
thefe  the  Condition  both  of  the  Arterks  and  Vein* 
ought  firft  to  be  examined,  and  if  the  Blood  veflel 
do  not  appear  turgid  with  a  ftrong  Pulfe,  the 
Lancet  ought  not  be  ufed.  For  it  is  ufual  with 
fuch  to  have  very  little  Blood  in  the  Arteries, 
while  the  Veins  are  diftended  wich  corrupt  Hu- 
mours. It  is  a  great  Error  to  fuppofe  that  all  the 
Difeafes  of  Virgins  proceed  from  an  Obftruclion 
or  the  Menfes  ;  when,  on  the  contrary,  the  Men- 
fes  themfelves  are  deficient,  becaufe  the  Solids  and 
Fluids  are  difeafed ;  but  remove  that  Difeafe,  and 
the  Menfes  will  return.  Thus  I  have  feen,  by  an 
improper  Treatment,  Girls  brought  into  a  Con- 
sumption. 

4  For  the  Diforders  which  then  invade,  gene- 
rally proceed  from  Inanition. 

§.  1234.  From  what  has  been  faid,  it  is  evi- 
dent how  much  Benefit,  and  how  much  Da- 
mage may  be  offered  to  Mankind  from  never  * 
having  recourfe  to  the  Ufe  of  this  Remedy  ; 
orelfe  by  applying  it  indifferently  in  all  Cafes, 
according  to  Helmont  and  Botalkts. 

>  Helmont  exclaims  that  all  bleeding  is  Butchery. 
Botalhts,  on  the  contrary,  cries  it  up  in  every  Dif- 
eafe, and  even  in  a  Dropfy ;  but  one  will  be  fafer 
who  takes  the  middle  way,  fince  thefe  Extremes 
are  both  equally  extravagant, 

§.1235.  Blood  to  be  drawn  from  the  he- 
morrhoidal VeflTels  is  indicated, 

jr.  From  thej  atrahiliajy  Temperature  or 
Habit  of  the  Patient, 

3  2,  From 


428  Of  Phlebotomy.      §.  1237. 

2  From  the  Difeafes  being  accompanied 
with  an  Injury  of  the  Mind,  or  reafonable  Fa- 
culties. 

3.  From  a  wonted  Flux  by  thofe  VefTels 
being  fuppreffed. 

4.  From  an  Eruption  of  Blood  by  new  Paf- 
fages,  which  ufed  formerly  to  be  more  hap- 
pily evacuated  by  the  hemorrhoidal  Vef- 
fels. 

§.  1236,  The  hemorrhoidal  Flux  is  pro- 
moted, 

1.  By  mollifying  thofe  VefTels  with  forne 
warm  emollient  Fomentation  compofed  of 
Water,  Oil,  Honey,  and  emollient  Herbs  ap- 
plied in  the  Form  of  Ciyfter,  Vapour,  or 
Fomentation. 

2.  By  opening  them,  by  Fridlion  with 
rough  Bodies,  or  by  the  Application  of 

/  Leaches. 

3.  By  the  Ufe  of  ahetic  1  Medicines. 

■  Taken  every  Morning  in  a  fmalL  Quantity, 
or  applied  in  ii trie  Balls  or  PefTorics  of  fix  Grains 
of  Pil.  Rufi,  introduced  feveral  times  in  a  Day. 
By  this  means  I  lately  brought  down  the  Piles  in 
a  fe  ,  Pays  time,  for  a  Patient  who  would  not  be- 
lieve he  could  be  cured  by  any  other  Remedy; 
but  for  my  own  part,  I  predicted  the  Evacuation 
would  be  ufelefs,  though  to  gain  time  I  conde- 
fcended  to  excite  it. 

§.  1237,  Scarifications  *  a<^ 
mulating  and  evacuating. 

By 


§• 1 2  3  9  •     ®f  Phlebotomy.  429 

«  By  Scarification  is  extracted  the  thinned  Parts 
of  the  Blood  and  Humours  from  the  cutaneous 
VerTels.  By  this  Operation  one  may  difcharge  a 
very  great  Quantity  of  Blood,  infomuch  that 
the  Eaftern  Nations,  the  Chine fe^  Japonefe^  JEgyp- 
tianS)  Greeks  and  other  Afiatics,  ufe  Scarification 
only,  inftcad  of  Phlebotomy ;  and  they  tell  us 
as  a  reafon  for  this  Practice,  that  it  is  not  at- 
tended with  thofe  Inconveniences  which  follow  the 
Injury  of  a  large  Artery ;  and  that  the  Wound 
readily  heals,  which  is  very  difficultly  performed 
in  Arteriotomy. 

§.  1238.  From  what  has  been  faid  like- 
wife,  the  Action  of  Leaches  1  may  be  well 
underftood. 

1  Thefewe  apply  to  Parts  both  for  Stimulating 
and  Evacuating.  They  have  almoft  the  fame 
Effects  with  Scarification,  and  may  be  applied  to 
the  fame  Parts  under  the  Arm-pits,  behind  the 
Ears,  and  to  the  Anus. 

§.  1239.  But  Setons  1  and  IfTues  ftimulate 
by  a  more  gentle  Pain,  and  affect  the  whole 
nervous  Syjftem,  evacuate  the  ferous  Humours, 
and  give  Vent  to  an  Over-fulnefs. 

1  Setons  are  made  by  drawing  a  Skain  of 
Thread  through  the  Skin  and  Fat,  and  changing 
it  a  little  every  Day,  by  which  means  a  thin  Ichor- 
is  difcharged,  and  fome  Pain  and  Irritation  is  ex- 
cited. Thefe  are  ufeful  when  it  is  neceffary  to 
make  a  Revulfion  of  fome  acrid  Humour  from  a 
tender  and  fenfible  Part,  as  in  Difeafesof  the  Eyes, 
&fr.  Hipocrates  long  ago  obferved,  that  every 

Part 


430         Of  Phlebotomy.  §.1243* 

Pare  which  fwclJed,  grew  hoc  and  painful*  at- 
tracted more  Blood  than  other  Parts,  Jefs  hot, 
red  and  painful.  But  thefe  are  feldom  indicated, 
or  put  in  Practice,  though  Iflues  are  frequently 
ma:e,  and  conduce  greatly  to  relieve  an  Hsemop- 
toe  or  Phthifis,  by  deriving  and  difcharging  the 
redundant  and  noxious  Humours,  as  in  natural 
Ulcers. 

§.  1240.  And  from  thefe  Confiderations 
(§•  I239-)  lt  l$  evident  when  the  Ufe  of  them 
is  indicated  to  be  neceffary. 

§.  1241.  Stimulating  Medicines  ad  by 
giving  Motion  to  the  Nerves,  and  determi- 
ning the  Humours  into  the  Part  required, 
where  they  excite  Pain,  Heat  and  Rednefs. 

§.  1242.  By  thefe  means  (§.  1241.)  they 
produce  an  infinite  Number,  and  thofe  often 
the  moft  defirable  Effefls  \  which  are  like- 
wife  indicated  from  their  known  Neceffity. 

1  By  thefe  ftimulating  Applications,  we  may 
be  able  to  irritate  and  change  the  whole  nervous 
Syftem. 

§.  i243.Thefearecommonlyreferredin Me- 
dicine under  (1.)  Dropaces 1  firmly  adhering, 
and  at  the  fame  time  penetrating  in  the  Form 
of  a  Plafter  applied  warm,  and  again,  pulled 
fuddenly  off ;  which  Operation  is  repeated 
'till  the  afFe&ed  Part  looks  red,  fwelled,  and 
hot.  The  Materials  for  this  Purpofe  are  Pitch, 
Oil,  Bitumen,  Caftor,  Galbanum,  Pepper, 
Pellitory  of  Spain,  Sal  Gem,  Sal  Ammonia- 

cum, 


§.  1243-     Of  Phlebotomy.  431 

cum,  Sal  Sarmentorum,  &c.  (2.)  Mild  S/~ 
napifms *  or  Phjenigmi  applied  in  the  Form  of 
a  Cataplafm,  and  left  upon  the  Part  'till  it 
locks  red,  itches,  fwells,  and  becomes  pain- 
ful or  inflamed.  The  Materials  for  which  are 
Muftard,  Bryony-root,  Garlic,  Onions,  Cref- 
fes,  Squills,  Euphorbium,  CrowVfoot,  dead- 
ly Carrot,  &c.  (3. J  Vejicatories  \  which  are 
ftronger  than  Sinapifms,  applied  in  the  fame 
Form,  but  with  more  powerful  Effects,  the 
Materials  being  the  fame,  only  differing  in 
the  Proportion  of  the  bliftering  Subftances  ; 
as  for  Example,  of  Figs  three  Parts,  and  of 
the  acrid  Matter  one  Part,  mixed  together 
make  a  Phanigmus  j  of  Figs  one  Part,  and 
of  acrid  Matter  the  like  Quantity  make  a 
Veficatory  ;  of  Figs  one  Part,  and  the  acrid 
Matter  three  Parts,  is  made  a  ftrong  Veliga- 
tory.  To  thefe  may  be  added  Cauteries,  both 
adtual  and  potential  ;  the  potential  *  are  ap- 
plied in  form  of  a  Cataplafm,  or  with  fcraped 
Lint,  and  compofed  either  of  the  Ranun^ 
culus,  Efula,  Tithymel,  fixed  alcaline  Salts, 
Lapis  infernalis,  Mercury  fublimate,  volatile 
alcaline  Salts  and  Spirits  j  and  the  Effects  of 
them  are  an  Inflammation,  and  burning  up 
of  the  foft  Parts  into  Efchars  and  laffly,  the 
aSlual 5  Cautery,  or  heated  Iron. 

1  The  Name  Dropax  was  given  by  the  An- 
dents  to  Pitch  fpread  upon  Leather  applied  hot 
to  the  Skin,  and  then  fuddenly  pulled  off,  and 
again  repeated  often  till  the  Skin  fwelled,  looked 


43  2      Of  Palliative  Cure.  §.  1244. 

red,  and  became  painful  ;  and  by  this  Irrita- 
tion they  endeavoured  to  cure  the  Itch,  Leprofy, 
Palfy,  &c. 

-  Applied  in  the  form  of  a  Cataplafm,  and 
made  up  of  Bread  and  Muftaid-feed  mixed  into  a 
Pafte,  till  the  inflamed  Skin  appears  of  a  Blood 
or  Rofe  Colour. 

5  Thefe  Veficatories  raife  the  Cuticle,  and  affect 
the  fubjacent  Skin  in  the  fame  manner  as  a  flight 
degree  of  Fire.  They  are  much  ufed  in  the  Plague 
and  Small-pox,  and  commonly  are  compofed  of 
Cantharides ;  but  formerly  they  ufed  Ranunculus, 
Tithymalus,  Buphorbium,  65V.--AH  thefe  excite 
a  Fever,  and  increafe  or  keep  it  up  ;  whence  they 
are  ufeful  in  Difeafes  arifing  from  a  Lentor,  or 
Pituita. 

4  Thus  we  call  thofe  Subftances,  which  being 
applied  actually  cold  to  the  Skin,  do  neverthelefs 
excite  the  Effects  of  Fire. 

5  Actual  Cauteries  are  ufually  made  of  Iron,  be- 
caufe  that  Metal  commonly  burns  more  violently 
than  any  other  known  Body for  it  requires  a 
greater  degree  of  Fire  to  make  it  melt  than  any 
other  Metal ;  and  yet  it  is  applied  without  leaving 
any  malignant  Effects,  which  are  always  exerted 
more  or  leis  by  heated  Copper. 


The  Palliative  Cure,  or  Treatment  of 
S  Y  m  p  to  m  s. 

§.  1244.  T3Y  mitigating  the  Symptoms, 
we   likewife  conftantly  re- 
move ibmething  of  the  original  Difeaje  \ 

2  The 


§.  1 248.   Of  Palliative  Cu?~e.  433 

■  The  phyfical  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe  differs  not 
in  the  leaft  from  all  the  con  fundi  Effects  taken  to- 
gether, and  the  Sum  or  Aggregate  of  the  Effects 
together  are  equivalent  to  the  Caufe ;  for  if  you 
remove  all  the  Effects,  the  Caufe  will  be  likewife 
removed  •,  or  if  you  remove  only  fome  of  them, 
you  will  have  likewife  removed  fomething  of  the 
Caufe. 

§.  1245.  From  what  has  been  faid,  it 
follows,  that  curing  all  the  Symptoms  to- 
gether, is  almoft  curing  the  whole  Difeafe. 

§.  1246.  But  the  principal  Symptoms  to 
be  here  confidered,  are  Thirft,  Pain,  Over- 
watchfulnefs,  and  Faintings. 

§.  1247.  Thirft  arifing  from  too  great  a 
Drinefs  of  the  whole  Body,  is  allayed  by 
plentiful  and  continual  drinking  of  warm 
watery  and  mealy  Liquors,  rendered  agree- 
ably acid ;  fuch  as  the  Decoction  of  Barley, 
Oats,  Bread,  Whey,  Wine  and  Water,  thin 
and  frefh  Broths  of  Mutton  without  Fat,  with 
fmall  well  fermented  Ale  without  Spices ;  to 
which  add,  Baths,  Fomentations  and  Cly- 
fters,  which  are  principally  ferviceable,  and 
moft  commonly  in  Ufe. 

§.  1248.  But  Thirft  arifing  from  Drinefs 
in  fome  particular  Part  1  of  the  Mouth,' 
Tongue,  Fauces  and  Oefophagus,  is  relieved 
(1.)  by  the  Ufe  of  the  preceding  Remedies 
(§.  1247.) ;  (2.)  by  wafhing  and  gargling 
F  f  frequently 


434-      Of  Palliative  Cure.  §,1250, 

frequently  by  the  fame  Remedies ;  (3.)  by 
opening  the  Glands  and  falival  Duds,  by 
Epithems  and  Fomentations,  of  relaxing, 
moiftening  and  aperient  Simples.  In  thisCafe, 
Pofca,  jr.  e.  Vinegar  and  Water,  boiled  with 
Crumbs  of  Bread,  is  of  excellent  Ufe. 

1  As  the  Tongue  is  dry  in  a  Dropfy,  while 
the  whole  Body  is  in  a  manner  buried  with  Wa- 
ter ;  in  which  Cafe  therefore,  watery  Liquors  are 
to  be  applied  to  the  Tongue  itfelf :  namely,  the 
Mouth  ought  to  be  continually  warned,  and  the 
Flux  of  the  Saliva  promoted  into  the  Mouth  by 
chewing  Bifket. 

§.  1249.  Third  arifing  from  an  acrid  lixi- 
fvial1  Salt,  or  from  an  aromatic  Acrimony,  is 
removed  by  all  thefe  Remedies  before-men- 
tioned (§.  1247,  and  1248.),  fo  far  as  they 
are  Diluents;  but  more  efpecially  when  thefe 
are  mixed  with  acids  and  nitrous  Salts.  Hence 
one  may  know  how  to  allay  that  Thirft  which 
arifes  from  a  muriatic  Salt,  which  requires 
little  more  than  w7atery  Liquors. 

1  Thirft  arifing  from  a  lixivia!  Acrimony,  is 
belt  allayed  by  Spirit  of  Sulphur Campanam, 

§.  1250.  But  if  the  Thirft  arifes  from  Ob- 
ftru&ions,  .or  an  impervious  1  Matter  not  ca- 
pable of  paffing  freely  through  the  VefTels,  it 
may  be  then  removed  by  Diluents  and  re- 
folving  Medicines. 

*  Nature  never  ceafes  to  admonifh  the  Admini- 
flration  of  Dri^k,  fo  long  as  there  is  any  Necef- 

fity 


§.1251.  Of  Palliative  Cure.  435 

fity  for  it  \  but  if  you  drink  ever  fo  plentifully, 
Thirft  will  not  be  extinguished  until  the  Blood  is 
diluted  and  attenuated,  which  being  once  effected, 
the  Thirft  immediately  goes  off.  For  anfwering 
this  Purpofe,  the  frefh  expreffed  Juices  of  Garden 
Fruits  diluted  with  Water,  more  efpecially  of 
Currants,  and  Oxymel  with  Water,  are  highly  con- 
ducive. 

§.  125 1.  Pain  as  a  Symptom  is  relieved, 

1.  By  diluting  1  the  acrid  Matter  ;  which 
may  be  done  with  warm  Water  and  mealy 
Decoctions  ufed  as  a  Drink,  Fomentation, 
Vapour,  Clyfter,  or  Bath  (§.  1172.) 

2.  By  diluting  and  attenuating  the  obftrud- 
ing  Matter  by  the  preceding  or  the  like  Li- 
quors, afiifted  with  refolving  Medicines  (§• 
1 160.) 

3.  By  relaxing  z  the  nervous  Veffels  by 
Drinks,  Vapours,  Fomentations,  Baths,  and 
Injections  of  moiftening,  relaxing,  anodyne, 
and  gently  aperient  Remedies  before-mention- 
ed (§.  1 158  and  1 166.) 

4.  By  correcting  the  Acrimony  itfelf  with 
its  proper  Antidotes,  agreeable  to  the  Consi- 
derations before-given  (§.  1172  to  1 1 78.^) 

5.  By  freeing  the  obftruding  and  acrid 
Matter  from  too  great  a  Preffure  or  Impulfe, 
by  the  Motion  of  the  Arteries  and  Blood 

6»  By  diffolving  or  digeuing  the  obftrucling 
acrid  Matter,  together  with  the  obftrucling 
Veffels  into  Pus  or  Matter,  and  afterwards 
difcharging  it  (§.  1 166.  N°  2.) 

F  f  2  7.  By 


436      Of  Palliative  Cure.  §.  1 2 5 1 * 

7.  By  obtunding  the  Senfe,  by  introducing 
a  Stupidity  with  the  internal  Ufe  of  Narco- 
tics, or  the  Application  of  them  externally : 
Such  as,  1.  ihofe  of  a  mild  Kind,  the  Flow- 
ers and  Seeds  of  wild  and  garden  Poppies,  gar- 
den Lettuce,  beginning  to  form  a  Head  for 
Seed,  and  replenifhed  with  a  milky  Juice  ;  2. 
or  thofe  which  are  fomething  ftronger,  as  the 
ripe  Heads  of  garden  Poppies  gathered  before 
they  are  dry  or  withered,  and  difcharging 
them  of  their  Seeds  -y  to  which  add  the  Milk 
diftilling  from  the  wounded  Heads  of  Euro- 
pean Poppies,  when  they  are  almofl  ripe;  3.- 
or  what  is  ftill  ftronger,  the  Theban  or  Eaftern 
Opium ;  4.  or  thofe  of  the  very  ftrongeft  kind, 
as  Mandrake,  Nightfhade,  the  Cicuta  aqua- 
tica  of  Gejher,  the  Stramonium,  Henbane, 
Tobacco,  and  the  like,  which  are  Poifons  to 
thofe  not  accuftomed  to  them.    To  thefe,  add 
all  the  Comporitions  which  may  be  applied 
externally  in  the  Form  of  Emplafter,  Lini- 
ment, or  Fomentation ;  or  internally  in  the 
Form  of  Drink,  Tincture,  Syrup,  Powder, 
Pills,  Conferve  or  Electuary,  under  which  laft 
come  the  great  opiate  ConjeBions  3,  as  the 
Diafcordium  of  Fracqftorius  and  Sylvius,  The- 
riaca  of  Ve?iice>  of  Andromachus>  and  others  ; 
Mithridate,  Philonium  of  various  kinds,  the 
Trypheras  of  the  Perjia?is   and  Arabians, 
the  Requies  of  Nicolaus,  Orvietan,  and  many 
others. 

1  The  Pain  in  a  Pleurify  is  removed  by  taking 
off  the  Inflammation,  by  external  and  internal  Ap- 
plications 


§.  1 2  5  3 .  Of  Palliative  Cure.  437 

plications  with  Warmth,  Drinks,  Clyfters,  Afper* 
fions,  and  Fomentations. 

1  Giafs  will  not  admit  of  being  bent  without 
breaking  at  the  firft  attempt,  but  when  the  fame 
Glafs  is  drawn  out  into  a  very  fine  Thread,  it 
may  be  twifled  and  turned  almoft  into  any  Figure 
like  Hair  ;  for  fince  the  Particles  of  Bodies  are 
broke  or  feparated  by  altering  their  Cohefions, 
there  will  by  this  Means  follow  aneafy  Diftraction 
without  Pain  •,  for  Pain  is  that  State  of  a  Nerve  in 
which  it  comes  near  to  breaking,  or  in  which  it 
is  upon  the  urmoft  Stretch.  When  the  Hangman 
ftretches  the  Limbs  of  a  Criminal  by  way  of  Tor- 
ture, the  Pain  is  moft  excruciating,  but  goes  off 
as  foon  as  the  Diffraction  is  remitted ;  and  thus 
when  a  tenfe  inflamed  Part  has  its  Nerves  and  fo- 
lid  Fibres  relaxed  by  anointing  with  Unguentum 
nutritum,  the  Pain  difappears. 

5  Thcfe  were  by  the  Ancients  termed  the  Hands 
of  the  Gods,  and  they  act  entirely  by  taking 
off  the  fevere  Senfe  or  Impreflion  of  the  Pain. 

§.  1252.  Too  much  watching  arifing  from 
a  Diforder  which  affects  the  Brain,  is  very 
difficultly  allayed,  and  hardly  at  all,  unlefs 
the  Diforder  itfelf  in  the  Brain  be  firft  re- 
moved, as  is  evident  in  a  Phrenzy  Coma- 
vigil,  Melancholy,  Madnefs,  &c. 

1  Opium  does  not  agree  with  phrenitic  Patients, 
Unlefs  you  firft  do  every  thing  capable  of  removing 
the  Caufe  of  the  Difeafe. 

§.  1253.  If  thofe  Diforders  arife  from  too 
great  a  Drinefs  of  the  Brain,  they  are  relieved 
by  a  Diet,  Drink,  Fomentation,  Bath,  and 

F  f  3  Injections 


438      Of  Palliative  Cure.  §.1255, 

injections  of  watery,  farinaceous,  emollient, 
and  reiaxingRemedies  and  Liquors  ufed  plen- 
tifully, and  for  a  long  time  ;  for  which  Pur- 
pofe  Leaves  of  Mallows,  Violets,  Lettuce  and 
Succory  are  more  particularly  recommended 
beyond  others. 

§.  1254.  But  if  they  arife  from  any  thing 
acrid  and  irritating  in  the  Brain,  they  are  to 
be  removed  by  the  Remedies  recommended 
for  the  Cure  of  Acrimony  (§.  1251.  N°  4.) 

§.  1255.  But  if  again  they  arife  from  too 
violent  a  Motion  of  the  Humours,  or  from 
their  being  drove  with  too  great  Impetus  upon 
the  Brain  \  the  Cure  may  be  performed,  1 . 
by  the  Quieters  (§.1170.)  ;  or,  2.  byfuchas 
make  a  Derivation,  .as  Fomentations,  Baths, 
and  Blifters,  applied  to  the  lower  Parts,  and 
compofed  of  emollient  and  acrid  Subftances 
mixed  together,  fuch  as  the  emollient  and 
mealy  Herbs  mixed  with  Salt,  Vinegar,  and 
fiale  Yeaft,  with  the  ftrongeft  Aromatics,  as 
Onions,  Garlic,  &c.  alfo  Fiuh  or  Flem  applied 
frefh  or  falted,  are  much  recommended  for 
the  fame  Purpofes.  At  the  fame  time  alfo 
making  ufe  of  Repellents  to  the  upper  Parts, 
fuch  as  Vinegar,  fimple,  or  in  an  Infuiion 
with  Elderflowers,  Rofes,  Violets,  Oxycrate, 
Ung.  Populeon,  Rofaceum ;  anodyne  Oils 
of  Nightfhade,  Violets,  Poppies,  Henbane, 
Be. 

1  In  this  Diforder,  the  Ancients  are  accuftomed 
to  apply  warm  Things  to  the  Feet,  and  fprinkle 

cooling 


§•1260,  Of  Palliative  Cure*  439 

cooling  Liquors  upon  the  Head,  as  Vinegar.  To 
relieve  the  infuperable  Watching?  in  the  Small- 
pox, the  Patient's  Feet  mould  be  kept  in  a  warm 
Bath,  while  the  Head  is  warned  and  bathed  with 
Vinegar,  which  will  incline  him  to  fleep. 

§.  1256.  Internal  Opiates  are  hardly  tobft 
ufed  in  this  Cafe,  unlefs  the  Diforder  appears 
to  confift  only  in  too  great  a  Motion  of  the 
Spirits. 

§.  1257.  In  which  Cafe,  Evacuants  and 
Diluents  being  firft  premifed,  Recourfe  may 
at  laft  be  had  to  thefe  internal  Opiates. 

§.  1258.  But  the  Excretions  being  too  pro- 
fufe,  are  moderated  by  thofe  Things  to  which 
we  directed  in  treating  of  the  too  powerful 
Action  of  evacuating  Remedies  (§.  11 88  to 
1228.) 

§.  1 259.  Too  profufe  a  Difcharge  of  Blood 
from  injured  Arteries,  or  large  Veins,  is  quiet- 
ed by  Compreflure,  Ligature,  burning  of  the 
Veffels,  Infpiflation  of  the  Fluids,  and  Con- 
traction of  the  Solids ;  for  which  Purpofes, 
Alcohol  Vini  \  and  the  ethereal  bpirit  or  Tur- 
pentine applied  hot,  are  recommended  as  the 
chief. 

1  This  is  fo  powerful  a  Styptic,  that  it  ought 
even  to  be  carried  in  the  Pocket  of  every  Surgeon. 


§.  1260.  Faintings  arifing  from  a  Stagna- 
tion of  the  Humours,  and  a  fpafmodic  Anxi- 

5  ety, 


44-6       Of  Palliative  Cur&.  §.  1 260 

ety,  are  cured  by  diluting  and  relaxing  1 ;  but 
if  they  proceed  from  a  Dulnefs,  or  too  weak 
Motion  of  the  Spirits  %  then  every  kind  of 
Emulating  Cordial  (§.  11 12.)  willbeconve- 
nient ;  or  if  they  proceed  from  Inanition,  the 
Cure  will  be  beft  effected  by  nourifhing  and 
filling  the  Veffels  (§.  1097  to  1107.);  ot 
laftly,  if  the  Fainting  is  from  an  hyfterical 
Fit,  foetid  and  antiftyfterical  Remedies  will 
be  moft  convenient* 

1  Sydenham  obferves,  that  many  People  have 
been  reduced  by  acute  Difeafes  to  extreme  Weak- 
nefs,  when  at  the  fame  time  all  the  Symptoms  de* 
monftrate,  that  the  Caufe  of  the  Diforder  confided 
in  a  Compreffure  of  the  Vefiels :  And  in  this  Cafe, 
a  Rarefaction  of  the  Humours*  and  warm  Medi- 
cines, would  increafe  the  Diforder,  when  Bleeding 
itfelf,  which  is  known  to  weaken  the  Strength  in 
fome  Cafes,  would  neverthelefs  remove  the  Faint- 
ing in  this,  by  letting  the  compreffed  Brain  at  Li- 
berty. 

a  Thefe  remove  the  Senfe  of  the  Difeafe,  but 
not  the  Difeafe  itfelf,  only  they  ftupify  the  Mef- 
fenger  who  ought  to  report  the  Patient's  Danger 
to  the  Phyfician.  Narcotics  ought  not  therefore 
to  be  ufed,  but  when  one  is  certain  the  Difeafe 
arifes  only  from  the  Spirits-,  as  fometimes  happens 
in  very  learned  and  thinking  People*  in  whom  the 
Humours  have  a  Itrong  Tendency  to  the  Head, 
caufing  Watching ;  and  in  fuch  a  Cafe  Afia  Fos- 
tida,  Camphire,  and  the  like,  may  be  alfo  ufed 
to  good  Purpofe. 


f  1  N  1  s. 


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i.  T^\R.  Albert  Haller's  Phyfiology :  being  a 
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2.  Pharmacopoeia Edinburgenfis**,  or,  TheDif- 
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pence. 

,     3.  Dr.  Friend's  Emmenologia.    Tranflated  in- 
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4.  Pharmacopoeia  Collegii  Regalis  Londini 
Remedia  omnia  fuccin&e  defcripta:  Una  cum  Ca- 
t  \\ogo  Sirrrplicium  Ordine  Alphabetico  digeftorum : 
Qiiibus  annexum  eftManuale  ad  Forum :  Nec  non 
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5.  Phar- 

% 


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5.  Pharmacopoeia Bateana:  or,  Bates's  Difpen- 
fatory.  Tranflated  from  the  laft  Edition  of  the 
Latin  Copy,  publifhed  by  Mr.  James  Shipton, 
Containing  his  choice  and  feled  Recipe's,  their 
Names,  Compofitions,  Preparations,  Virtues, 
Ufes,  and  Dofes,  as  they  are  applicable  to  the 
whole  Practice  of  Phyfick  and  Chirurgery.  The 
Arcana  Goddardiana,  and  their  Recipe's  interfper- 
fed  in  their  proper  Places,  which  arealmoft  want- 
ing in  the  Latin  Copy.  Compleated  with  above 
fix  hundred  chemical  ProcefTes,  and  their  Explica- 
tions at  large,  various  Obfervations  thereon,  and 
a  Rationale  upon  each  Procefs.  To  which  are  ad- 
ded, the  famed  Dr.  Goddard's  Drops,  Ruffel's 
Powder,  RabelPs  Styptick  Powder,  Tin  dura  de 
Sulphure  Metallorum,  and  the  Emplaftrum  Febri- 
fugium.  The  fifthEdition.  By  William  Salmon, 
M.  D.  8vo. 

6.  Samuelis  Dalei,  M.  L.  Pharmacologia,  feu 
Manududio  ad  Materiam  Medicam  :  In  qua  Me- 
dicamenta  Officinalia  fimplicia,  hoc  eft  Mineralia, 
Vegetabilia,  Animalia  eorumque  partes  in  Medi- 
cine Officinis  ufitata,  inMethodum  naturalemdi- 
gefta  fuccinde  &  accurate defcribuntur.  CumNo- 
tisgenerum  Charade  rift  is,  Specierum  Synonimis, 
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Ad  calcem  adjiciturlndex  duplex:  Generalis  alter, 
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Remedies,  and  a  copious  Index  for  the  Affiftance 
of  young  Phyficians.  The  third  Edition  with  Ad- 
ditions, by  the  Author  Tho.  Fuller,  M.  D.  8vo. 

8.  Pharma- 


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Viribus  Dofibufque  illuftrantur,  atque  Catalogis 
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to  human  Bodies.  Jlluftrated  with  above  fourfcore 
Figures  drawn  after  the  Life.  By  James  Drake, 
M.  D.  late  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Phyficians, 
and  F.  R.  S.  The  third  Edition  corrected,  with  a 
Preface  by  W.  Wagftaffe,  M.  D.  and  Reader  of 
Anatomy  atSurgeon's-Hall.  In  3  Vols.  8vo.  1727. 

10.  Joannis  Friend,  M.  D.  SereriifTimse  Reginns 
Carolina  Archiatri,  Opera  Omnia  Medica.  Fol. 

1 1 .  A  Courfe  of  Chirurgical  Operations  demon- 
ftrated  in  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Paris,  by  Monk 
Dionis.  8vo. 

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plainly  laying  down  whatever  Inftructions  are  re- 
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ny Errors  in  all  the  Books  hitherto  written  upon 
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hazarding  the  Life  either  of  the  Mother  or  Child. 
Written  in  Latin  by  Henry  a  Daventer.  Made 
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fome  Account  of  this  Work  by  an  eminent  Phy- 
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13.  Foffils 


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fuitable  to  their  mutual  Relation  and  Affinity.  By 
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14.  Leonardi  Plukenetii,  M.  D.  Opera  omnia 
Botanica.  In  fex  Tomos  divifa  viz.  I,  II,  III, 
Phytographia.  IV.  Almageftum  Botanicum. 
V.  Almagefti  Botanici  MantifTa.  VI.  Amakhe- 
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tedtee  ad  plures  Chiliadas  defcribuntur,  turn  Ico- 
nibus  Tabulis  iEnis  454  fumma  Cura  depictis  fi- 
gurantur.  4to. 

15.  Botanologia:  The  Englifh  Herbal,  or  Hif- 
tory  of  Plants.  Adorned  with  exquifite  Icons  or 
Figures  of  the  mod  confidence  Species,  repre- 
fenting  to  the  Life  the  true  Forms  of  thofe  feveral 
Plants.  The  whole  in  an  alphabetical  Order.  By 
*W.  Salmon,  M.  D. 


4f: 


I